[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6120480,"mediaKeyId","2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632","parentId",2707468,"title","Board reviews second reading of proposed transportation policy changes, including McKinney‑Vento language and 'reasonable transportation restrictions'","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3800000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632&start=3800&end=3800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632/thumbnail_3800000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120480/Minnesota/Board-reviews-second-reading-of-proposed-transportation-policy-changes-including-McKinneyVento-language-and-reasonable-transportation-restrictions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120480-174cbe2bf3a9fdf5bdca3fa80e2af9ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021907&Signature=bCT01mhfO9Pqkn92DJItRCah5mbGUV6SIuPUEoyzaKxERod90u5YWbTJ4zug3QxDO9e1lC1Rfn4jnSPw8g3paHXTXBK5CDzm6vt~VQv79nYnro6BqJN1IKXu~cMm1UhKtxl7C59vhzSzdl3bmQmAe~0pkbJJ2HT3fyyH2vNf8El8exBNqtSq4~SyMXMqSpaPxEJ4~cH9vlEG-AHWVY0-4VmuXIa7c3WefxG2d5BqX9EAaGbKEzhGBHpifINxK1VekMwA2nh1y48p1d4GPsgrE1gE8n8oo25-Xixya9dqH-DUJgSKEHfeCDG4mrVxGNd5iXOYtTBIiXdWjSJlswwOJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Cloud Public School District","date","2025-03-20T08:54:05.943Z","article","St. Cloud Public School District staff presented a second reading of proposed revisions to Board Policy 707 (transportation of public school students) at the March 19 meeting, with two changes highlighted for the board: adoption of McKinney‑Vento terminology for homeless student transportation and a proposed addition describing reasonable transportation restrictions.

Assistant Superintendent Shannon Avison led the review and told the board that the recommended language aligns the policy with federal McKinney‑Vento terminology and state statutes that govern transportation of students experiencing homelessness. Avison said the long statutory list that governs the district’s transportation policy remains unchanged and that legal counsel (Amy Mace) had been consulted on the wording for reasonable transportation restrictions.

Avison said she did not recommend additional changes following the first reading the previous week. No formal vote on the revised policy took place at the meeting; staff presented the draft and invited questions.

Board members had no substantive amendments during the second reading. The item will appear on a future board agenda if the board schedules a formal adoption vote.

Separately under discussion items, the board allocated members to award diplomas at Tech and Apollo commencements on May 31, 2025. The board confirmed volunteer assignments for two members at each ceremony and named a backup. Those assignments were made by consensus rather than formal roll‑call vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3-19-2025 Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board received a second reading of revised Board Policy 707 (transportation of public school students). Proposed language changes align the policy with McKinney‑Vento (homeless) terminology and add a provision on reasonable transportation restrictions; the draft was prepared in consultation with district counsel.","taxTitle","St. Cloud Public School District, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",13558,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6120485,"Board approves meeting agenda and consent agenda, accepts $4.4 million in bills and routine items",115,129000,244000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632&start=129&end=244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632/thumbnail_129000.jpg","/articles/6120485/Minnesota/Board-approves-meeting-agenda-and-consent-agenda-accepts-44-million-in-bills-and-routine-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120485-00fe253df130860498ca048169b1aa01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021907&Signature=M5RKjuJ5VFQlQRXrdaLlXhuVynIGmZmaZKGohdEv8algsqO-buLE8XPzkeNTIn0XhF4yZRrzRwZzcIHDQoZXUbtykGs4Oir~KnyajNJ7ITp7TGmmdT6PNw-d4DlkqClqMkZfU2wXCnUJKK1SXXE12o3RnaKhvraFbDqTW-TaE1t0pQRD28CQS2JfMe6n5obm2YZymmW5rBZso5rDlzPI-9FFruR4uEr9Oyuozh4YQvPV7VxLonfAm1LX18qW3O82M8q2479Ces-s5z9loxgWaUawHdchbDW5Z5P0ZNX~JDo3MJHIndENc6uUe6itb1IVqtXJdZFQFxFE-1tguhxCvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Cloud Public School District Board approved the meeting agenda and unanimously passed the consent agenda at its March 19 meeting, which included payment of bills totaling $4,408,687.76 and routine administrative items.

The chair called for a motion to approve the meeting agenda. The motion was made and seconded; the roll call recorded affirmatives from members present. The board then reviewed the consent agenda, described by staff as consisting of noncontroversial items that typically are adopted without debate. The consent items listed in the agenda were: approval of minutes (from Feb. 5 and Feb. 19, 2025 as read), approval of bills and other financial transactions in a grand total amount of $4,408,687.76, approval of personnel staffing changes, acceptance of grant awards and donations, and contract award for audit services.

A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Al Doegren and seconded by Diana Fenton. The board clerk called the roll; the vote recorded the following members voting \"yes\": Diana Fenton; Zach Dorholt; Paul Dahlgren; Scott Andreasen; Shannon Hollis. The motion carried and the consent agenda was adopted.

No items were removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration. The board took no additional formal votes on specific grants or contracts beyond their inclusion on the consent agenda.

Separately, the board approved a motion to adjourn at 7:43 p.m.","The St. Cloud Public School District Board approved the meeting agenda and passed the consent agenda, which included approval of minutes, personnel changes, acceptance of grant awards and donations, contract award for audit services and payment of bills totaling $4,408,687.76.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6120489,"District 742 outlines Read Act implementation: LETRS training, curriculum review and screening updates",1578,1478000,3056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632&start=1478&end=3056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632/thumbnail_1478000.jpg","/articles/6120489/Minnesota/District-742-outlines-Read-Act-implementation-LETRS-training-curriculum-review-and-screening-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120489-476cd76ed396b5e52055faeb4d4cb9e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021907&Signature=QTQTnZ5fmwN4dGu6bPjzTw4G3UsKxki7Fyon18aeOMuhvITCqoSp0fxC4To0g0kZZNZ1E-sANLHpcvVi0z33fcP578Jj0UuHZqkblDIPRCOin8VBqZUuisRaCCscOUllzfya720Xa089tMYqH3AtAM5tC7dkCf4qjXg7B6cCbH0XrUV-lHAle8Y4W-xaERm3Iyayt50VX81WnN5sV8WsOvRiBjNaxx~F8~JCGIgwUMNH9V-UKZgXMTwkXTi909O3xxTFnfWVXW0HFS~5JsOaG0Vxm0BQYg2zRxmu-6x8hcXKwCEhaqLmFXkoxVjio9JOHY6L-TPEOVN-cD01BBop~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District leaders told the St. Cloud Public School District Board on March 19 that local work to implement the Minnesota Read Act is well underway and that next steps include curriculum pilots, expanded screening and alignment with state guidance.

Laura Stebner, Director of Elementary Education, said the district expects about 90% of current elementary and early‑childhood teachers to finish LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training by the end of the next school year. “We are at about 90% of our current Elementary and Early Childhood teaching staff that will finish the LETRS training by the end of next school year,” Stebner said.

Hilary Johnson, Director of Secondary Education, described parallel secondary efforts, including Carry (secondary‑oriented science‑of‑reading training) and a secondary literacy task force that has developed an instructional vision and is auditing current secondary resources. Johnson said the district used grant funding and adjusted schedules to provide training within the duty day for many staff and offered a compensated fast‑track option; nearly 100 teachers elected the summer fast‑track option.

On curriculum, elementary educators have begun vendor reviews and plan pilots in a broad set of classrooms in 2025–26. The board was told vendor presentations began during the meeting’s curriculum work session; final recommendations are expected in spring 2026. The district said Spanish immersion classrooms are included in the review; Chinese immersion requires different literacy considerations because it is character‑based.

Intervention and screening work is proceeding. The district uses FastBridge as its approved elementary screener and has built teacher capacity to interpret data, place students into interventions and monitor progress. State guidance will provide K–12 approved intervention lists in November 2025, the presentation said. The state also plans to publish an approved screening tool list for grades 4–12; the district is awaiting that guidance and will adapt secondary screening when it is available.

District staff highlighted a new Minnesota Department of Education risk‑factor tool that assigns numerical thresholds across required subtests to identify students at high or some risk of not becoming proficient readers. The presenters said the risk tool standardizes weighting across assessments and that districts can opt in; the district plans to evaluate the state tool when it is released.

The presenters noted parent notification templates and regional literacy center exemplars are in development; the district already notifies parents when students receive specialized reading services and will review state templates for local adaptation. Staff said required training for support staff (about eight hours) is scheduled next year and will be delivered during regular professional development time to avoid pulling staff from student duties.

Board members asked clarifying questions about state partnerships, dyslexia screening and how the district will monitor implementation. The presenters said that state partnerships with the University of Minnesota and related institutes are a feature of the Read Act and that dyslexia screening is integrated into the state‑approved tools including FastBridge.

The presentation closed with student testimonials played for the board about why literacy matters to students’ future plans. District leaders said they will continue to refine timelines and return with pilot results and curriculum recommendations as the state releases further guidance.","District staff told the board they have trained most elementary teachers in LETRS, are piloting new elementary curricula in 2025–26, await state lists of approved interventions and screening tools for grades 4–12, and are adopting a new MDE risk‑factor screening tool when available.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":80,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6120494,"LEAF announces two-year waiver of middle-school activity fees, highlights $3M-plus in grants to District 742",968,1212000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632&start=244&end=1212","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707468-8e4355c47de812f10a8bb05d147df632/thumbnail_244000.jpg","/articles/6120494/Minnesota/LEAF-announces-two-year-waiver-of-middle-school-activity-fees-highlights-3M-plus-in-grants-to-District-742","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120494-fa681a6a41f277cd0e18a7d6d747f6c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021907&Signature=RQO0gkFBL2XSQ6SprxuUW6Djgc~N-xC9sBsCRr9qJCtL8hE-3m13oOpyYBOg-YuSdx-PdQEFhA6adq4UbL0qyHzJqtBEqvbjiy6vMEl0Rp16fibaDw-ZhJaLKhmG~DqHrt7sJ0j2Kj9I86-GpZT9wW2qZqDjatxUm62g5oiU5k8XeWtM-x~BccPRLVFbOMiFYQvhYivOAZ6w9lHoPvCeTZmAAokGV22TNt2b6wetQPDFG133xUnkFXjrIKnTWb9Zb7PDQt7Ig~U3lJCjS~88aKmQtrYszgOUWdOy7wJB48TrBMvVocw~tv3hvJ2jgYwQp7JnkItG-PCMkNJEE6jlrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Local Education Activities Foundation (LEAF) told the St. Cloud Public School District Board on March 19 that it has provided more than $3,000,000 in grants to District 742 programs over its history and will fund elimination of middle‑school activity fees for two years starting in the 2025–26 school year.

The announcement was delivered by Diane Moller, who identified herself as the 2024 LEAF president. “Starting in the 2025, 26 school year, LEAF will fund the elimination of 2 years worth of middle school activity fees for all students,” Moller said. She said the change aims to remove participation barriers for students in activities from soccer to robotics.

Board members and district staff heard LEAF describe its funding priorities, including classroom grants, endowments for academics and activities, participation funds for students in need, and targeted supports such as crisis shelter assistance. Moller said LEAF’s “adopt a classroom” program lets families, businesses and community members sponsor classrooms through high school and credited generous public support for the foundation’s principal revenue source.

A member of the public during the information item raised concerns about the foundation’s public transparency. The commenter said the LEAF website has not been regularly updated and that financial reports and meeting minutes appear out of date: “If I go online and look at the website for LEAF, most of it hasn’t been updated for 2 to 3 years,” the commenter said. The speaker urged LEAF to restore current financials and minutes so donors can verify how funds are used.

LEAF representatives told the board they are aware of the website issues and are discussing the problem at an upcoming LEAF retreat. Moller said the foundation has hired someone to work on the site and that the board and executive director intend to address transparency concerns.

LEAF also reviewed recent awards and recognitions, including grants to South Junior High for sports equipment and several annual awards given at the foundation’s meeting. The presentation noted LEAF’s long history in the community and its two endowed funds for activities and academics.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the fee waiver and LEAF operations; one board member said the elimination of fees will allow the district to evaluate whether removing the cost barrier affects participation or enrollment. LEAF said details on implementation and which fees will be waived were discussed as part of the presentation but did not announce additional formal actions by the district at the meeting.

The board’s information session concluded with thanks to the LEAF presenters and to district staff who coordinate the partnership.","Local Education Activities Foundation (LEAF) told the St. Cloud Public School District Board that it has awarded more than $3 million in grants to District 742 programs and will fund a two‑year waiver of middle‑school activity fees beginning in 2025–26; a public commenter urged improved website transparency and financial posting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reviews second reading of proposed transportation policy changes, including McKinney‑Vento language and 'reasonable transportation restrictions'

Board approves meeting agenda and consent agenda, accepts $4.4 million in bills and routine items

District 742 outlines Read Act implementation: LETRS training, curriculum review and screening updates

LEAF announces two-year waiver of middle-school activity fees, highlights $3M-plus in grants to District 742