[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6250743,"mediaKeyId","3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4","parentId",3198689,"title","Board approves contract with City of Richfield to administer 2025 and 2027 school-board elections","audioSeconds",295,"startMs",6048435,"endMs",6344330,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4&start=6048&end=6344","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4/thumbnail_6048435.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250743/Minnesota/Board-approves-contract-with-City-of-Richfield-to-administer-2025-and-2027-school-board-elections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250743-dffdc9b081be69723e3b1b46e0cdfe35/orig.mp4?Expires=1775601764&Signature=bALQHOy5hxvQvHum~T5Ww3ZI1dtkjIHiUshQWg4i0wXFOnwAtEHlJnZJgsnSzhxKkrpyzFE3RQFD-X421rxA0GsOpc3e01ovdJIo0nQhudv5jDkZpZ~z0r6JB6UI8D-OXfHqLbsKkST~z4rUpx~6qZWeXq64DrtKgHXK-Np5qWJ4dhjDOu71Dh8hCSnjkZApauDkF8wZMJeGr90L4qVLNw2PUbasyUiza51-oWZAHW3YG-oEd9LzcLmFK~Y8TdouVySkCuU4qfFtOhmWUe99a6-~hVvZu0uUJO~nA5XpeoxNB0UzLvhVDk0tlPd8kLoMblHw2rZjtbHRo52weUkzww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richfield Public School District","date","2025-05-06T14:21:51.317Z","article","Richfield — The Richfield Public School District board approved an agreement with the City of Richfield to have the city administer school-board elections in 2025 and 2027, with estimated maximum costs of up to $88,000 for 2025 and up to $95,000 for 2027.

District staff said the estimate was reduced from earlier, higher projections after detailed negotiations and that the figure covers city labor and absentee-ballot operations tied to state ballot-security and absentee procedures. Staff also told the board that they checked comparable districts and found Richfield’s estimated costs to be within the typical range for districts that contract with their city for election services.

Officials noted that the district expects negligible incremental costs after 2028 when school-board elections would be aligned with the city’s general election schedule. Board members asked about prior election costs and the reasons for higher absentee staffing needs; staff said processes changed and that absentee ballot handling requires continuous staffing on some days, which drives costs.

The board voted to approve the agreement and asked staff to continue monitoring the city’s hours and charges during the contracted election administration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richfield School Board Meeting: May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved an agreement with the City of Richfield to pay up to $88,000 in 2025 and up to $95,000 in 2027 to have the city administer the district’s school-board elections; staff said costs were reviewed against peer districts and expected to be within range.","taxTitle","RICHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",58078,"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},6250748,"Board approves preliminary 2025–26 budget and authorizes up to 30% advance expenditures",819,5228639,6048375,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4&start=5228&end=6048","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4/thumbnail_5228639.jpg","/articles/6250748/Minnesota/Board-approves-preliminary-202526-budget-and-authorizes-up-to-30-advance-expenditures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250748-e3e8d4b22d1650b33d7c574567619376/orig.mp4?Expires=1775601764&Signature=gMWUT0Sbhs3IvD76QqWFi5~glRltP1UB0RRkwb7eJto~Pv8QJjJ5mHSzBV1tyUqW0QXQ9XbhR4lG3ol4qdGevVjaYzhHnsiLo3cTVtnxN-hO4~h0LSRSNo5wWK4Xt8ZQvqmG2cRBUxjDJUotPYqFYqMCEzY2Ci-jrR34rmGfXV4cXN4IAAq2hT1fLTK6K2q-hNJzjJdeNdyDDjJydafh9ERWbXwNvBvmAIgTE2MDXytOpZqvqRSxNRpls~aaNNEclb97tVn12zJEg1i-zYyVMczqILy~Uh1mmfQqoZQc~VmGT7eqPpOJ-0-kjjQQgJXFU1YHA2V4kwE4i5ZsxkIB5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richfield — The Richfield Public School District board approved a preliminary 2025–26 budget and authorized the finance department to commit up to 30% of each fund’s budget before the board adopts a final budget, citing the need to place orders and commit to contracts ahead of final adoption.

A district finance presenter told the board the preliminary general-fund revenue was $88,737,872 with proposed general-fund expenditures of $92,204,692. Across all funds, staff showed projected revenues of about $114,831,000 and expenditures of about $115,784,000. The presenter said the preliminary plan included a projected unassigned general-fund balance of about 7.26% (approximately $6.7 million) and an overall projected ending fund balance of about 17.3% (about $15.9 million), representing a planned reduction of roughly $3.4 million in overall assigned fund balance.

Staff explained that the budget reflects increases in salaries and benefits, and that some revenue changes (for example, increases in special-education funding) were offset by a projected reduction in compensatory aid — a change the presenter tied to current legislative uncertainty. The superintendent noted that the district is deliberately using some fund balance to bridge uncertainty while the legislature finalizes allocations; officials said the district could reduce spending further if statewide compensatory dollars do not materialize.

The board discussed specific restricted funds including technology, English-learner programming and purchased services such as special-education transportation. Finance staff said purchased-services overages in the current year had been driven in part by special-education transportation and that auditors and an RFP were under way to examine those costs.

On the authorization motion, a director moved that the finance department be allowed to expend up to 30% of the approved fund budgets prior to final budget adoption; the motion carried on a roll-call vote with board members recorded as voting aye. Staff said they will return with a final adopted budget for approval in June after refining assumptions and incorporating any legislative changes.","The board approved a preliminary FY2026 budget and authorized the finance department to expend up to 30% of fund budgets before final adoption, while staff said the district will use fund balance to cover projected shortfalls pending legislative outcomes.",{"_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},6250753,"Board approves resolution to nonrenew 17 probationary teaching contracts",214,5002455,5216735,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4&start=5002&end=5216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4/thumbnail_5002455.jpg","/articles/6250753/Minnesota/Board-approves-resolution-to-nonrenew-17-probationary-teaching-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250753-c4d725b433d222065be5e55202a3734f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775601764&Signature=nVnFbn29lbxcUNlwtJtp1Ff9XLilf3KV~Yz1JkkLO1nXtoHhGchbjNYz-ZiP2z7TsIgKrBSh62RRf5gESU6RSmSjvRIVwq~ArFk3J1xQKvm0gXEdXAjbDX0u74vEL8wqKljatOB84i6XuksLW~I6EgeOP2Qzxr5-NUADw7L8DOtjEKennMGjfCeP-iGecnLKOENmsiPEo-tpi-bYpHv5XAqqsYVX3o6NlAszrAxU1PKp~4Vojy8FyuP1JP7Icr112Sl198UgzkzBBVh6cF1FI1eKoncACsYJvVLumfi0iv5Fih750lEUrZJkdb-KfC-pYAWX17Wcc4cTbydqfYJ7zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richfield — The Richfield Public School District board voted to approve a resolution terminating or not renewing the probationary teaching contracts of 17 individuals, the board announced at its May meeting.

Human-resources staff presented the resolution to the board and said the nonrenewals occur for multiple reasons, including staffing reductions, licensure requirements and other administrative determinations. A staff presenter said the placement of a name on the nonrenewal list is not necessarily an indication of a performance determination.

Board members acknowledged the difficulty of the vote. Director Spencer said the decision is “never easy” in a small district. The motion to adopt the resolution was moved and seconded from the floor and approved by roll-call vote. Recorded votes showed Director Liss, Director Spencer, Director Paulus and the chair voting aye; the chair announced the resolution was approved.

The board did not discuss individual personnel files in open session. The meeting recessed into a later closed session for labor negotiation strategy under Minnesota law (see authorities).","The Richfield school board approved a resolution to nonrenew probationary contracts for 17 teachers; the board vote was unanimous. District leaders said nonrenewals stem from staffing changes, licensure issues and other reasons and cautioned not to interpret the list solely as performance-related.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6250758,"Richfield nutrition director reports stable participation increases, local-apple program and FFVP changes",653,2810765,3464435,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4&start=2810&end=3464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4/thumbnail_2810765.jpg","/articles/6250758/Minnesota/Richfield-nutrition-director-reports-stable-participation-increases-local-apple-program-and-FFVP-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250758-c1383844f6b7a140826704192b3339c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775601764&Signature=F7hUuynxpaWTHQFZi4UcbC~FeJVqcg94oTly-Y9oFpYMAHIpR6MMaetB9HTL70BKKjH56ID43PWmm6Capc52KzQXngU-vw6fmoGKjvdC0BXv4fJrpMiQ2qJwuyVl6oVt00CHKukSoGYrAiigarrx2ywIlpKiTvomHQ3kf~jTq5rTx0FbXMZlbSLO-cSANpCF1lt8CiRX-dqsSlpqeL7aFzspKRJsW34QvZt-Th88oZqwt1TgwBO2O8XQgjBdcGURX8uh3ehkBhhbAJ3o10swlCwskG-dEhidhcmUxHP~KP56zguo445-wHs1vSjub9PVC8KTBlNl9VTFOzVj-K2fOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richfield — The Richfield Public School District’s director of nutrition services told the school board the department saw modest increases in meal participation this year, outlined grant-funded initiatives and reported a satisfactory federal administrative review with minor corrective items.

Director Michael Manning began the presentation by stating the program mission: “Our goal is to create a warm and welcoming environment for every student, every meal, every day.” He reviewed programs the district offers, including breakfast-in-the-classroom at the elementary schools; a hybrid grab-and-go and traditional breakfast at secondary sites; the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for after-school snack and supper at certain sites; and a grant-funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) that provides a fruit or vegetable daily to elementary classrooms.

Manning reported participation increases year to date: breakfast rose from 48.33% to about 49.6% and lunch rose from 66.94% to about 71.2% in the district snapshot described during the presentation. He told the board the district’s free/reduced-price eligibility rate declined from 58.3% to 53.37%, and said that decline caused the FFVP to lose funding eligibility at several elementary sites; next year FFVP will be offered at Centennial Elementary only.

Manning highlighted a local sourcing partnership that supplies about 50,000 local apples per year from farms including Brand Farms, and a completed school-waste reduction and recycling grant that installed share carts in elementary buildings and the middle school. He said students quickly adapted to the share-cart practice, which allows students to leave unopened food items for classmates.

On finances, Manning said district negative student meal balances stood at roughly negative $20,000 (a $4,000 improvement from the prior year). Negative adult balances were about negative $866 (an increase of roughly $100), while the district’s “sunshine” (voluntary-donations) balance was about $8,800 (up about $1,000). He described summer meal sites and stated the nutrition department will continue current service models next year while emphasizing greater nutrition education and promotion.

Manning summarized a federal administrative review completed on April 10. He said there were no major findings but that staff are addressing corrective-action items including clarifying the application-for-benefits approval process, tightening family-data access to the student information system to protect confidentiality, increasing civil-rights training, updating “offer versus serve” signage, a minor menu change to grab-and-go meals, clarifying FFVP grant claims and revising Buy American tracking.

Board members asked about accommodations for dietary and religious preferences; Manning said the department coordinates with building nurses to respond to health-related needs and works to provide vegetarian/halal and other options. Members also discussed whether the district could fund FFVP at additional schools if the grant is no longer available; Manning said the nutrition fund does not currently have capacity and that funding the program districtwide would require a general-fund appropriation.

The board did not take new funding actions at the meeting; the presentation was informational and prompted follow-up questions about possible program funding and grant monitoring.","Nutrition director Michael Manning reported increased lunch participation, a local apple partnership serving about 50,000 apples a year, a completed school-waste grant installing share carts, and that the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) will be offered at one elementary next year due to changes in free/reduced counts.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6250763,"Richfield’s alternative program reports higher enrollment, focused home-visit strategy to reengage students",960,1278750,2238790,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4&start=1278&end=2238","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198689-1fb889dba9f7e65f1efa4cb18ad8bbc4/thumbnail_1278750.jpg","/articles/6250763/Minnesota/Richfields-alternative-program-reports-higher-enrollment-focused-home-visit-strategy-to-reengage-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250763-43977c5b80d47c5e2df894dea501674a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775601764&Signature=RSKR~~UV28dwOxjzXWdKLy3ihZSgp4MaWKSTkL~zEJzwZusl5ERf1pdfe3o6BfGZgpG4PU1zpzQWE2ocudknlCGr4ELxTBseyqXe4prYTJZOorDpgkPh3h4AqKxulb71SbYyGGc-CysjFMUTPLJb1ATXAOwzwsGE6MDI08uDjmR~Lz5AYo4XgacifUkG3DXMw0c5cdcNG-d7TcDoa~72EoBi9TtkfmJzIf7aXkYwPWmKAwk67ydl~TNhpho8h6BZ-UWlucBek6bn0sMr1nO8cotnnXj~bmUbInc~~SYD7BAiev22umTmmy8zjxH5TCNXhcZra~vKh-wIjxgv81BW8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richfield — At a Richfield Public School District board meeting, staff from the Richfield College Experience Program (RCEP) reported increased enrollment this year and outlined a structured progress-monitoring system and home-visit strategy that program staff said helped reengage students and prevent withdrawals.

The program presentation, led by Dr. Keisha Wilhite and counselor Cassie Acosta Cano, said RCEP started the year with about 85 students, most in 11th and 12th grades, and that roughly 90–91% of students identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC). Wilhite said the program’s parent/guardian survey completion approached 32% overall, and staff survey completion was about 75% for program personnel.

RCEP staff described a tiered attendance and progress-monitoring model. Teachers and advisors handle outreach when students miss three to five days; counselors and social workers join outreach at six to nine days missed, and more intensive team interventions occur once absences exceed 10 days. Counselor Cassie Acosta Cano said home visits are used when students fall into those higher tiers: “We bring postcards with us, and we just visit students,” she said, adding that staff explain visits on enrollment so families know what to expect.

Program staff reported at least 60 home visits so far this year and estimated they would reach 80–90 by year end. Acosta Cano said 22 students returned to engagement within 48 hours of a visit, and staff estimated that about eight potential drops were prevented through outreach. She described other wraparound supports delivered during visits, including food, bus cards and device chargers, and said staff sometimes met students at libraries or other community locations to help with credit recovery work.

Wilhite described technical supports that feed a live spreadsheet showing students’ credits, attendance and progress toward graduation. At the board presentation she cited midyear graduation numbers: 13 graduates as of April 21, with other students distributed across credit bands (examples given: up to five credits remaining: 15 students; five to 10 credits: 16; 10 to 15 credits: 10). She also said RCEP emphasizes recognition of multilingual students through the Seal of Biliteracy; staff reported 53 world language certificates expected at graduation (29 gold seals, 15 platinum seals) and 11 pending scores.

Board members praised the team’s outreach and credited changes in progress monitoring and credit recovery approaches with improved retention. Wilhite attributed growth to several factors including closer alignment with state alternative-education guidance, credit-recovery approaches that capture prior learning (credit by assessment), creative elective credit opportunities, and sustained outreach to keep students engaged.

Program staff said they use campus and community visits, elective projects (sewing, horticulture, arts), and social-emotional activities such as ropes-course and service projects to build relationships and interest in postsecondary pathways. The presentation noted the program serves a high share of English learners (reported at about 39%) and that staff actively track credits in real time to find and support students at risk of dropping out.

Board members asked about causes of enrollment growth and whether referrals from Richfield High School had increased; staff said growth was likely a mix of new junior referrals and improved retention through outreach and technical changes.

The board did not take formal action on the program during the meeting; the presentation was provided for information and questions.","Richfield Public Schools’ Richfield College Experience Program (RCEP) said it enrolled about 85 students this year, with nearly all identifying as BIPOC, and described a tiered progress-monitoring system plus home visits that staff say helped prevent dropouts and produced several graduates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves contract with City of Richfield to administer 2025 and 2027 school-board elections

Board approves preliminary 2025–26 budget and authorizes up to 30% advance expenditures

Board approves resolution to nonrenew 17 probationary teaching contracts

Richfield nutrition director reports stable participation increases, local-apple program and FFVP changes

Richfield’s alternative program reports higher enrollment, focused home-visit strategy to reengage students