[{"_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",6273906,"mediaKeyId","2997069-78a1c9adc913b34f30d8887c79be609d","parentId",2997069,"title","Resident urges district to explain plan after resolution on eliminating director of equity and inclusion appears on agenda","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",4257000,"endMs",4431000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997069-78a1c9adc913b34f30d8887c79be609d&start=4257&end=4431","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997069-78a1c9adc913b34f30d8887c79be609d/thumbnail_4257000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6273906/Minnesota/Resident-urges-district-to-explain-plan-after-resolution-on-eliminating-director-of-equity-and-inclusion-appears-on-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273906-7c972cb5ebaa20ae21ae1c433d47ab03/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151468&Signature=BfBJO5ih2sVlu7eD8meUPyQpwlPepKsG6iVAV3X9uS80x5eRMqcTQJOnnll5WD-0uFH8XoVe3fiwryex1nOKD8VZOBcCSG8FKGP68HDWpTp96hUkry4hTDrHQZYpljcRIFAd8~uZC4ZDHdpNBsDnVjIBtJAWF14Kb9aD9D~AUC47nG9pDD78B8gR7vhlLUXnUvmhbqB7q2OadFaJE4wYUePbWxkrL2xbrtQits7mn-4ums9UXdVEPcm2nibmVdSIQwWt5z5yXjRsRZ7NQ3WvXD1dkKDJa~G5QuA2iUYg6R~y8hmoIPP3ocm3RnZ0GnNraGA8vvVMlE2rPnbirInyBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","PRIOR LAKE-SAVAGE AREA SCHOOLS","date","2025-04-15T14:38:09Z","article","Michael Gillis, a Prior Lake resident, addressed the school board during the meeting's open‑forum period to urge the district to explain a resolution on the agenda that would eliminate the director of equity and inclusion.

Gillis told the board that \"all members of our community should be concerned\" about the proposed elimination and said equity and inclusion are meant to ensure \"a level playing field\" and that the district gives each student the \"best opportunity to have the best educational experience that we can offer.\" He warned that removing the position could send \"a signal that Prior Lake‑Savage area schools perhaps does not value uniqueness or fairness.\"

Gillis noted the district serves students with special education and English‑language services and said he expects the district to have a plan to ensure that \"no student school experiences are hindered by their background or their ability.\" He concluded, \"I look forward to the district sharing that plan very soon.\"

The meeting excerpt contains Gillis's public comment and references a resolution on the meeting agenda but does not include a board vote, a recorded discussion of the resolution, or a staff response to Gillis's request within the provided transcript.

Action listed on the meeting agenda (resolution to eliminate the director of equity and inclusion) is recorded in the meeting materials, but no outcome is recorded in the provided excerpt.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 14, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education - Part 1","oneSentenceSummary","A Prior Lake resident told the board a resolution on the agenda to eliminate the director of equity and inclusion should worry the community and asked the district to publish a plan to prevent negative effects on students; the meeting excerpt contains no board vote or response.","taxTitle","PRIOR LAKE-SAVAGE AREA SCHOOLS, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",38260,"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},6273912,"Superintendent to run in‑house community survey after failed referendum; federal lobbying highlighted special‑education funding and recruitment",928,2796000,3724000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997069-78a1c9adc913b34f30d8887c79be609d&start=2796&end=3724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997069-78a1c9adc913b34f30d8887c79be609d/thumbnail_2796000.jpg","/articles/6273912/Minnesota/Superintendent-to-run-inhouse-community-survey-after-failed-referendum-federal-lobbying-highlighted-specialeducation-funding-and-recruitment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273912-bce5fd20a38ace350e511bbfba7e3390/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151468&Signature=njQFsZqsfHhjvnURgv09c2n9THYSrZoPbhw5qq3iEhO7JsgNlKsZHXQ0rTK1E-OGqM3QiIGEPb0C04Fe8uV9K98fRKvN4ueITs3BpZBU-5ZOU3te6u3nTXFzp9lG-FbfnW5sFQCEGLtHiNhXEo3Jvy6sS9WxTN9garGYn9B1Jf3~qG9aCwrJRKAsfIitvEh8nQb3XUuoN5tTl5bNAjaT2Jaswi9gw6ALMB4MueM2rsCLZ9qgSeYEcMnAomcwR38DQ9Yg9YQDokBV9HprbGFv4y6r6qSCIWMG5bREFKJrAFq~zn2pjaSP1Oeva5rlaLrVfwtNih0VGjvxaIsb4yC8ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Thomas said the district will launch an in‑house community survey from April 15 through April 29 to gather input after a recent referendum failed, and he summarized federal advocacy the district carried out in Washington, D.C., on special education funding and workforce development.

Dr. Thomas told the board that Morris Leatherman, who conducted the district's pre‑referendum polling, told district leaders he could \"save you $30,000 and I'll tell you the two reasons why it didn't pass\" — economic insecurity and concerns about property taxes — and that the district would instead run its own, lower‑cost survey. Dr. Thomas said a postcard mailer to reach a broader, random sample would cost an estimated $5,400.

The superintendent asked the community to participate and to share the in‑house survey. He said the district will summarize results for the school board and district leadership.

Dr. Thomas also described elements of the district's recent advocacy trip to Washington, where he and other Minnesota school leaders met federal delegates and Department of Education staff. The delegation urged fuller federal funding for special education, discussed \"grow your own\" teacher pipelines to address staffing shortages, and pressed to maintain Title I funding and public funding for public schools. Dr. Thomas said the delegation met with both Republican and Democratic members of Congress and with Department of Education officials.

On federal guidance, Dr. Thomas discussed two \"Dear Colleague\" letters from the U.S. Department of Education and a state attorney general opinion that the superintendent said has raised questions in Minnesota. He said the letters prompted requests for clarity; he gave an example of a district inclusive early‑childhood playground and asked whether such projects fall within acceptable practice. He told the board: \"We will continue to abide by what is right for kids. We are a public educational system that serves all students no matter who they are and how they show up in our classrooms every single day, and that's nonnegotiable as your superintendent.\"

Other administrative updates included branding and strategic‑plan signage being installed in buildings, ongoing development near the district (Keyland grading and a planned park), and the superintendent's outreach with real‑estate professionals about local housing and enrollment trends.

Dr. Thomas said he will provide the board further details and results from the district survey when available.","Superintendent Dr. Thomas told the board the district will launch an April 15–29 community survey after a recent failed referendum and described a Washington, D.C., advocacy trip that focused on special education funding, teacher recruitment and federal guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion.",{"_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},6273917,"Prior Lake‑Savage students honored for winter athletics, arts; band leaders recap Greece performance tour",2495,240000,2735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997069-78a1c9adc913b34f30d8887c79be609d&start=240&end=2735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997069-78a1c9adc913b34f30d8887c79be609d/thumbnail_240000.jpg","/articles/6273917/Minnesota/Prior-LakeSavage-students-honored-for-winter-athletics-arts-band-leaders-recap-Greece-performance-tour","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273917-df7e821a5e9b4cb0db6ceb4c2f706940/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151468&Signature=LwTkopcS2tnSEpKncEEWcD0Q~y7FzgyPhbs8A2DzXT4EUUHPrjdBiruqUeJdB8IJ7ilcAnRnHE3oJk1Jvrz21VrBalTuyT2QE-rhjXpxMZxh5INXwH1pV3MjXI-YNDxzr2gEc0c1M9xpQN~CtJ2WLS8z7V68QU69VOnpgF7eWGmMSmL6tEYW~6D4Kt3OrQ3S1ZncbzH~meIpw5c09EAo1djltjN0mJg0ago4c82-ZynUa958i3uNLKWV1jMPopPFd8nHZudlvHQYSO4bxfo5hwUOebDNVfeOeE4DV2TwrPZ0CRQ1sTQOhFHBkYkG3zKZxJYcyegKPAZYEDrqNlE0ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prior Lake‑Savage Area Schools honored dozens of students Tuesday evening for winter athletics, activities and fine‑arts achievements and heard chaperones and directors recap a recent performance tour to Greece.

The recognitions highlighted a high level of participation and competitive success across winter programs. District presenters said more than 75% of students participate in at least one co‑curricular activity.

Among the highlights presented by the district's activities staff: Angelica Benitez won a third consecutive state title in Olympic weightlifting and teammate Lillian Noll finished runner‑up; 22 DECA students qualified for state competition and six DECA students qualified for international competition in Orlando; the FTC robotics team (Team 4509, the Excalibots) finished second in its division at the Minnesota state championship and earned an invitation to a June premier event; and the mock trial and debate programs produced multiple state qualifiers.

The district also noted notable team and individual results in Minnesota State High School League sports: girls alpine skiing repeated as conference champions and finished third at state; the girls Nordic team qualified as a team for state for the first time in school history; the boys basketball team finished 22‑7 and the girls 21‑6, with two players surpassing 1,000 career points; boys swimming won the conference and finished third at the Class AA state meet; the wrestling team qualified for the team state tournament for the first time since 2015 and finished sixth at state, with several individual placers; the cheer program placed as high as second nationally in medium varsity game day competition and the JV squad won a national title; and the gymnastics team set multiple school records and sent five gymnasts to state, with Annie Drain finishing fifth individually.

Michelle Chuka, the district's director of student support services, who was recognized earlier in the meeting with the Minnesota Association of Special Education Administrators' Administrator of the Year award, said, \"I'm deeply honored that, my colleagues recognize me for this. But one thing I know to be true, I'm getting a lot of credit for a lot of work other people do.\" Chuka credited her team and building‑level leadership for supporting students with disabilities.

Band and orchestra directors presented a photo recap of a multi‑week performance tour in Greece. Keith (band director) described the trip as a performance tour and said, \"pictures [are] worth a thousand words,\" noting performances in Nafplio, Delphi and Athens, and that students were welcomed by local audiences. Superintendent Dr. Thomas, who accompanied chaperones on the trip, said the large traveling group returned safely: \"We brought them all back. So, you bring them all back, that means that it was a successful trip.\"

Presenters repeatedly thanked volunteers, coaches, advisors and the broader community for supporting students across athletics, arts and activities.

No formal board votes or motions related to the recognitions were recorded in the meeting excerpt.","Prior Lake‑Savage Area Schools recognized dozens of students for winter athletics and activities achievements and heard a district band and orchestra recap of a performance tour in Greece. Highlights included state championships, All‑State music selections and national cheer finishes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges district to explain plan after resolution on eliminating director of equity and inclusion appears on agenda

Superintendent to run in‑house community survey after failed referendum; federal lobbying highlighted special‑education funding and recruitment

Prior Lake‑Savage students honored for winter athletics, arts; band leaders recap Greece performance tour