The student ambassador presentations began with Milan Chi, a fifth grader from Pine Hill, who shared his enthusiasm for participating in the upcoming egg drop challenge. Milan detailed the preparations for this event, focusing on the educational aspect of understanding materials that cushion the egg’s fall. Furthermore, Milan expressed his interest in establishing a class centered around fishing and sports, aligning with his personal hobbies.

Following Milan, John Sey, an eighth grader from Lake Middle School, introduced himself and discussed his contributions as a student leader. He highlighted an upcoming jazz band performance at elementary schools and shared his role in providing feedback on teachers and school policies. John proposed an insightful idea to implement therapy dog sessions within schools, aimed at reducing student stress and promoting mental health. He also participated in a session to improve cafeteria food offerings, emphasizing compliance with new nutritional regulations.

The final student ambassador, Bren Hacker, a junior at Woodbury High School, shared his experiences and insights as a student leader. Bren noted the ongoing renovations at Woodbury High School and the importance of monthly meetings with the principal to discuss student feedback and concerns. He proposed offering an ACT study course during school hours to alleviate the financial burden of external courses on students. Bren also expressed the importance of connecting with younger students and integrating their experiences with those at the high school level.

The board members and attendees expressed appreciation for the student ambassadors’ contributions, emphasizing the importance of student leadership and the valuable perspectives they brought to the meeting. This segment fostered a positive atmosphere and highlighted the connection between different grade levels within the district.

Transitioning from student leadership, the meeting addressed the significant topic of Community Education Early Learning, presented by Jake Winchell, the director of Community Education. Winchell introduced leaders Joyce Beard and Beth Quist, who provided an in-depth overview of the district’s early learning programs. Beard, with nearly 30 years of experience in early childhood education, shared insights from empirical research on the critical importance of early childhood development. She emphasized that a child’s brain is 90% developed by age five and highlighted the substantial economic returns of investing in quality early childhood programs.

Beard detailed the structure and funding of various programs, including Early Childhood family education, preschool, and early childhood screening. She noted that the district’s preschool program includes 44 class sections for up to 800 children and underscored the mandatory nature of early childhood screening for kindergarten enrollment. Furthermore, she highlighted the unique role of Early Childhood family education (ECFE) in Minnesota, which has been operational for over 50 years, serving families with children from birth to age five.

Beth Quist, the ECFE Outreach coordinator, discussed outreach programming that engages underserved populations and assesses family needs in the community. She outlined several initiatives, including collaborations with local childcare providers to align early learning practices and ensure access to high-quality experiences for all children.

After the early learning discussion, the meeting addressed policy changes, aligning them with updates in Minnesota statutes. The board approved seven policies in the 400 series, relating to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination, as well as two policies in the 500 series. Following this, a revised budget for the 2024-25 school year was presented, with the general fund balance anticipated to adjust to 15.8%, aligning with board policy metrics. The board approved the revised budget without any questions or concerns.

The board also approved the termination of probationary teaching contracts for the 2024-25 school year due to scheduling changes and performance issues. A roll call vote confirmed unanimous approval of the resolution for non-renewal.

Superintendent Julie Nielsen provided updates on construction staging at various schools, noting the thorough planning to minimize disruptions. She announced the upcoming kindergarten welcome night on April 17 and emphasized the importance of timely enrollment paperwork to facilitate staffing decisions.