[{"_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",6625500,"mediaKeyId","2756780-150594f43d437ffaa4f1db58bfa598d1","parentId",2756780,"title","Board approves agenda, consent items, Spanish trip, 2025‑26 calendar, ESY pay MOU and foundation grant","audioSeconds",1794,"startMs",3700000,"endMs",5494000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756780-150594f43d437ffaa4f1db58bfa598d1&start=3700&end=5494","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756780-150594f43d437ffaa4f1db58bfa598d1/thumbnail_3700000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6625500/Minnesota/Board-approves-agenda-consent-items-Spanish-trip-202526-calendar-ESY-pay-MOU-and-foundation-grant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625500-099a8ebdda8e109657a05ddf2820c326/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134918&Signature=b1rXc~Ywpz1dU5yBpw-kcXGbwkUD14njEXhvvd7fRUM7y5jmQ9FRvSXCUW-ku326bDzkrL5X6OJSFD2aunpwTmhx6NgMBNTjLVSw1ykhDk4wi7bYizrVuVIdhVjjLQMHqSfkIDoCrwAXk2YIdEM5WmAZzhHmYlyN6t-XOIpz2PUnpTlBDConm~CLsTRs2y5ROpfMdef-sk9UC0tLHfLLiD-SwGzM0FmiNBD6sQrOwiXW2cmEWte3880KY04kgCX7u9rSonYPsO6b-vrbrAA4LL6LawF3rgQ0Xem2bVC0hxEW6r3UmGnJ3fxCIsAAFRAxneeuZ47NJvoCJ3uxJFh1VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Prague Area Schools","date","2025-03-25T01:23:53.457Z","article","The New Prague Area Schools Board of Education recorded a series of motions and formal approvals at its March 24 meeting, including a student trip to Spain, the 2025‑26 district calendar and a pay change for extended school year (ESY) staff.

Votes and outcomes

- Approval of agenda: Motion moved and seconded; board voted \"aye.\" Outcome: approved.

- Approval of consent agenda: Motion moved and seconded; board voted \"aye.\" Outcome: approved.

- Appointment of Anne Christie to a board vacancy: The board announced that, following an earlier 5:00 p.m. candidate interview session on the same day, it had voted to appoint Anne Christie to the open school board seat. The portion of the record provided to the board meeting states the board \"took a vote and we approved to have Anne Christie be our new replacement.\" No mover/second or roll‑call was recorded in the public portion of the transcript. Outcome: approved (appointment announced).

- Approval of Spanish class trip to Spain (June 10–22, 2025): Motion moved and seconded; board voted \"aye.\" Outcome: approved. Key details presented to the board: the trip is organized through CETA Tours; 25 paying participants (16 New Prague students, 3 New Prague teachers and 6 parent chaperones); per‑student cost $4,469; trip includes round‑trip airfare from Minnesota, in‑country motor coach travel, hotel accommodations, two daily meals (breakfast and supper) and itinerary admissions. The board noted the trip is fully funded by participant fees and chaperones are unpaid volunteers (teachers attending as part of the group were not paid for trip days).

- Approval of 2025‑26 district calendar (pre‑Labor Day start): Motion moved and seconded; board voted \"aye.\" Outcome: approved. The board noted the state approved the district’s pre‑Labor Day start flexible learning plan for three academic years and the calendar is intended to allow the school year to end before Memorial Day.

- Approval of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for extended school year (ESY) pay: Motion moved and seconded; board voted \"aye.\" Outcome: approved. The MOU sets a minimum hourly pay of $35 for staff who teach ESY (bringing ESY pay in line with the district’s targeted‑services summer hourly rate). District staff estimated the incremental cost would be modest — likely in the low‑thousands — because the change affects relatively few early‑career special‑education teachers; staff estimated ESY teacher counts of roughly 8–10 overall and that the MOU would change pay for maybe 1–4 positions this year.

- Approval of New Prague Area Education Foundation grant: Motion moved and seconded; board voted \"aye.\" Outcome: approved. The grant, presented to the board by staff, will fund a classroom learning tool; dollar amount and specific equipment details were provided in the board packet (not read in full during the meeting summary).

- Adjournment: Motion moved and seconded; board voted \"aye.\" Outcome: meeting adjourned.

Process notes and attributions

Votes taken during the March 24 meeting were generally conducted by voice vote after motions were moved and seconded. Where recorded, the board’s public comments show unanimous \"aye\" responses; no roll‑call tallies with individual yes/no votes were read into the public transcript for the actions above. The board also emphasized that the Spanish trip is funded by participant fees, that chaperones are unpaid and that teachers attending receive no additional compensation for travel days.

Ending

The board’s recorded approvals clear routine business and allow the district to proceed with the approved trip, calendar and summer staffing plan; the appointment of Anne Christie was announced as decided earlier in a candidate interview session and will be reflected in board records.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NPAS School Board Meeting, March 24th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The New Prague Area Schools board approved routine agenda and consent items and took formal votes on a student trip, the 2025‑26 calendar, an ESY pay MOU and a foundation grant at its March 24 meeting.","taxTitle","NEW PRAGUE AREA SCHOOLS, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",57134,"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},6625504,"Eagle View students run schoolwide recycling, organics and share‑cart pilot; program funded by Scott County grant",754,773000,1527000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756780-150594f43d437ffaa4f1db58bfa598d1&start=773&end=1527","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756780-150594f43d437ffaa4f1db58bfa598d1/thumbnail_773000.jpg","/articles/6625504/Minnesota/Eagle-View-students-run-schoolwide-recycling-organics-and-sharecart-pilot-program-funded-by-Scott-County-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625504-77d59d039b257811ebfb9575660d601c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134918&Signature=YXNqlaWBeVWGWRsB3NB9K2H6mp3daCk4XIVtBEp0ehPVxhSIbODHOdB75h3-fvOJMNY7T2qoc7ePHg4RFKeQAvpWy-InefAGQnVD8PUVmGNGXgzXBJ9G4RoSMUGaOXbYxR4UG8wvR16K7EK4hicMg-Czp3MX0uSA8tlxLA-nesKRlxNX5zpzOUiPy2RJuDOCsV6WenSIfUy0RZVja58BYAR6PAVnxAnK7JVlJYDhG43nDbUJD~k2ruqUeFBBXFUjqirUuTnC2-HZogfq5~44grugm9H54H7PLQZejPHAsg3TLG5WP0eoLwMLuAlvP5NaCcZhxio4nqdG3hqY5C-iew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eagle View Elementary’s Green Team outlined an in‑school recycling and food‑recovery program to the New Prague Area Schools board on March 24, describing a grant‑funded system of classroom recycling bins, organics collection and a student‑run “share cart” that redistributes unopened food to Students in need.

Mr. Dipperner, an Eagle View staff member who presented the group, said the program began after the school received a Scott County recycling infrastructure and education grant that supplied recycling bins, an organics collection pilot and educational support. \"We applied for a Scott County recycling infrastructure and education grant a couple of years ago. This is our second year of being able to utilize that,\" he said.

Program details and student role

The Green Team has 12 students who meet every Wednesday and voluntarily give up part of recess to collect recycling, sort classroom materials and move the school’s tilt cart to the loading dock, students told the board. Students said teachers sort classroom recycling into items such as paper (no shredded paper) and place bins outside classrooms for collection.

\"We go and we split up in groups and spread around the school to gather all the recycling,\" student Robbie told the board. The team described bringing sorted materials to a large tilt bin and using custodial loading‑dock access for pick‑up.

Organics and share cart

The grant also funded an organics pilot; staff said organics are collected separately and sent to receiving farms. The school introduced a share cart with two sections — one for nonperishable items and one for milk or sealed beverages — that gives students who are still hungry an option. Students and staff monitor the cart so children take only what they need; teachers perform evening room checks when students travel with the group on field trips.

Demcon partnership and education

Crystal McNally, who works at Demcon, provided classroom education and video demonstrations about the recycling‑sorting process. Students told the board they learned that nonrecyclable items (snack wrappers, shredded paper) damage equipment, and that automated sorter robots at recycling facilities remove improper items. One student recounted videos showing \"a robot picker\" that removes improper items and noted the surprising items that sometimes appear in recycling.

Outcomes and next steps

The school has added outdoor recycling stations for events, printed recognition for teachers who improve sorting, and plans Earth Day cleanup activities. Staff said they will order shirts for Green Team members and continue monthly work with the Demcon educator.

Ending

Board members praised the student involvement and the custodial and staff efforts that make the program work. The Green Team’s presentation highlighted practical steps small elementary schools can take to reduce waste while teaching stewardship and providing food‑security supports for students.","Eagle View Elementary’s student green team described a schoolwide recycling and organics program funded by a Scott County recycling grant, with 12 student volunteers who meet weekly and manage classroom sorting, a tilt cart and a new food share cart to reduce waste.",{"_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},6625509,"Facilities task force urges continued maintenance, new security upgrades; district staff to cost options ahead of potential fall referenda",750,2700000,3450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756780-150594f43d437ffaa4f1db58bfa598d1&start=2700&end=3450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756780-150594f43d437ffaa4f1db58bfa598d1/thumbnail_2700000.jpg","/articles/6625509/Minnesota/Facilities-task-force-urges-continued-maintenance-new-security-upgrades-district-staff-to-cost-options-ahead-of-potential-fall-referenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625509-9a8346402c9b2b8ad56c557817c5819a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134918&Signature=RznZD5S5v~ephRbPuubYVp~pQrU8C49SDml24riIXSh7Wj3ZBjs2gtcnTkT-i0z4F-TSDq~Ohp5DjMn4Pdr-9kNB8AN3Kq~AAFfWdd6C0N5YorQFuRlYXQRahZl5thGf7wVMHPW9t4wc1559cSFS8B3BSbjJ500Niip3hMJf0So~KvFR8FCcXR4nlapPi9aALljTTuNP1RTcLhcE2ZxbMPdPAVn22wqJNZFbY~fn-LRRTPvHOm2k334Eq14MAztyao0eZIQQI2zBW4ZVqDlHT57ksZUEUa-KD1~eOYDSInh0Sl3cXNgS01GFSmeJEw8mByrLw7tVrRS6CuO9klgjKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A volunteer facilities task force that met five times this winter recommended that New Prague Area Schools focus its next capital priorities on continued long‑term maintenance and upgrades to safety and building access, a task force presentation to the school board said March 24.

The group — which included parents, business leaders and district staff — flagged mechanical systems, roofs, paving and ADA upgrades as the district’s most pressing maintenance items and recommended a phased approach to safety and security improvements that could include secure vestibules, zoning of interior access and upgraded classroom locks.

\"The two most critical items to take a look at for the long term are continued maintenance on the buildings as well as upgrading the safety and security,\" said Mr. Boothie, the facilities task force facilitator, summarizing the group’s findings. \"Depending on available funding, some of that could be phased in over time, could be summer projects as far as maintenance goes in the district.\"

Why it matters: the district’s presentation and the group’s discussion make clear there is a gap between the district’s state long‑term facilities maintenance (LTFM) funding and the level of deferred maintenance identified. A district representative briefed the board that the district receives roughly $1.5 million a year for long‑term facilities maintenance (about $500,000 of that is dedicated to the fitness and aquatic center) and that the task force reviewed a deferred‑maintenance estimate on the order of about $65 million over the next 10 years.

Task force process and priorities

Wold Architects and members of the task force provided tours, data and prioritization exercises during five meetings. Participants repeatedly said school buildings generally appear well maintained but that accumulated deferred maintenance and aging systems — especially in older buildings such as Falcon Ridge and the high school — warrant planning.

\"Physical conditions and safety and security easily resonated at the top of that list,\" said Yvonne of Wold Architects, describing the group’s exercise results. \"If we're only going to do one thing we have to take care of what we have and we have to make sure that it's safe and secure.\"

The task force also weighed curricular space needs and community‑use facilities, but those items ranked below maintenance and security. The group noted the district currently has adequate capacity — enrollment is not driving an immediate need for additional seats — so capacity does not require near‑term action.

Security options and next steps

The task force recommended the district consider three tiers of security work: (1) secure entry vestibules that create a controlled entry sequence; (2) zoning that limits access to portions of buildings; and (3) upgraded classroom locks to allow faster lockdowns. Presenters described the secure‑vestibule approach as creating an outer weather vestibule and an inner secured sally‑port, with offices adjacent to entries when feasible.

District leadership said it will return to the board in April with cost estimates broken down by the three security layers and with further detail on phasing. \"My one action item is to cost out three different layers of potential safety and security upgrades — entrances, zoning and locks — and to bring that to you in April,\" Superintendent Tony Volmuth told the board. Volmuth also repeated that the district would examine all funding sources, including LTFM, capital bonds and a potential referendum if community priorities point in that direction.

Community engagement and transparency

The task force recommended sustained community engagement and transparent public materials, including tours for citizens and regular updates on the district website and local paper. Brent Quast, a parent and local banker who represented the community group at the board meeting, said members leaned toward conservative, clearly prioritized requests rather than large, unfocused proposals.

Board and staff context

Board members and staff praised the task force process and the facilities and maintenance work performed by district operations staff. The presentation emphasized that while some security improvements could be done as summer projects, other items would require budgeting decisions and possibly voter approval. The board did not approve any funding or a referendum at the March 24 meeting; staff were asked to provide the requested cost data and to continue the outreach timeline discussed during the meeting.

What comes next

District staff outlined a timeline: staff and family surveys in April, a possible community survey in May, and a board decision about whether to pursue a fall 2025 operating or capital referendum by June. Volmuth told the board that the timeline is compressed if the board wants to pursue an autumn ballot question and that June would be the preferred decision point to allow community engagement and planning.

Excerpted quote: \"There is a pretty big delta between things that we need to do as well as the available resources that we have,\" a district representative said when describing the LTFM funding and deferred‑maintenance figures.

Ending

The task force report leaves the board with a prioritized list of maintenance and security items, a request for cost estimates on three security tiers, and a community engagement plan. The board will consider the cost information and survey feedback before deciding whether to place a question before voters in fall 2025.","A 35‑member facilities task force recommended New Prague Area Schools prioritize ongoing building maintenance and upgrades to safety and secure entries, and urged transparent community outreach while district staff prepare cost estimates for tiered security improvements ahead of possible fall 2025 referenda.","actionData","errors"]

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Board approves agenda, consent items, Spanish trip, 2025‑26 calendar, ESY pay MOU and foundation grant

Eagle View students run schoolwide recycling, organics and share‑cart pilot; program funded by Scott County grant

Facilities task force urges continued maintenance, new security upgrades; district staff to cost options ahead of potential fall referenda