[{"_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",6553481,"mediaKeyId","5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93","parentId",5067506,"title","Board approves Minnesota State High School League membership amid public comments on transgender policy","audioSeconds",1020,"startMs",2316000,"endMs",3336000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93&start=2316&end=3336","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93/thumbnail_2316000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553481/Minnesota/Board-approves-Minnesota-State-High-School-League-membership-amid-public-comments-on-transgender-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553481-3d969ce9fd60ce91572a46b717de5484/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570558&Signature=UJM15s5GqeTcTUX7mmtFyVoi1MFUrUHmOTPp0PBUi~0bV4UN0wLmzI7Hu0LC3kN6xHMXoeKGMc-9r-3z~WzX2sBW05NqhoFD6fE44fvmaDTMTRXAHKCk0aCn7YKmSuiU-KBwMqQMpUm6J2ARZdAVZWzqhhZg9TCJRnso4oNOgigyyfr26gARrDAO1yx2qGEVXvHrDNq15JX17lLjV5EZEnY2qn0JK-QwwfyjvqepnPfksj~I4F~yLLsFLtR2OSen2K1vLfC0nng3HgD8bRRiXFL5PTN8DRnytxmZnyhTnGIPRlUVNHi-XLmmrOy1Ruic16dRslxJF4bwU4SSiq5pJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elk River School District","date","2025-06-24T12:30:25Z","article","The Elk River School District Board voted to approve the district's membership in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) for 2025-26 after an extended public discussion and public comment urging action on the League's transgender participation policy.

A speaker during public comment (unnamed in the transcript) urged the board to push back against the MSHSL policy that allows transgender students to participate in girls sports, saying it \"is anything but fair\" and arguing that the policy was enacted without significant public input. The commenter urged local school boards and superintendents to press the League to restrict girls' sports to biological girls and suggested creating an open or coed category as an alternative.

Board members responded that the district must maintain MSHSL membership for student eligibility to compete. Several directors noted the MSHSL implements rules in the context of state laws and executive orders and that substantive changes to eligibility rules would require legislative or judicial action. Director Nordos referenced recent impacts in area competitions and asked whether district representation on League committees had raised the issue; administrators said section-level and board-level League committees had discussed the matter but that the League is following current state law and its bylaws.

Chair Cherry Anderson called the motion to approve MSHSL membership for 2025-26 and the board approved it by voice vote. Board discussion emphasized concern for fairness to girls' sports and for student safety and eligibility, but members said changes to League eligibility rules are governed by state-level authorities and the League's governance processes.

The meeting record shows the board approved membership to preserve student eligibility, while board members and the public discussed the larger policy dispute over transgender participation in interscholastic athletics.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ISD 728 School Board Livestream Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the district's Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) membership for 2025-26 after public comment criticized the League's transgender participation policy; board members noted membership is required for students' eligibility and that policy changes must come from legislative or judicial bodies.","taxTitle","Elk River School District, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",38480,"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},6553485,"District previews Memorandum of Agreement with Vision for student bus tracking; vote planned for July",442,1794000,2236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93&start=1794&end=2236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93/thumbnail_1794000.jpg","/articles/6553485/Minnesota/District-previews-Memorandum-of-Agreement-with-Vision-for-student-bus-tracking-vote-planned-for-July","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553485-949cecda7cc5dd71d5bed0cdc5885b5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570558&Signature=mcSnIfOCD~7rxReTM2ALf0UiXj-oaUGdg-eNrAyCovg-INCZQMko2zQnm-yBYZ9KzAU~az4UUAjTm6-iw8ZFqU8i0iLV7oUiFkZnAQa6LJzzO8deyuKjvvkTDRmMrDmfYRTFwA1aE0sV0EXR22RyiPC8WN-~fAaipZ8mFCHJeFakp9aBkE9QNrNlU1M2YdDN97cwOeuLGxbIUtRe4vGbuVI14F3GcBXdzxiIi-pRbdFCpK0oLDbvNO~LXtwspDhf0FV4rak3WF24RiDRGYcDQmYkastIkAHFWET0qIk7JJ~LyPyQ-EQuXHxz0qJwAPu9L1fTXTjerTXzkK2NNt7vMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elk River School District administrators presented a memorandum of agreement (MOU) with Vision Transportation that would add Wayfinder routing and student on/off tracking to the district's existing transportation platform. The board did not vote; the administration intends to return with the contract for action at the July 14 meeting.

Kim Eisenchek, Business Services director, said the MOU would add a parent-facing feature that allows parents to see when students board and leave buses and would provide turn-by-turn GPS navigation for drivers. The system would also support tracking during field trips and athletic events and provide a rostered record of which students were on vehicles for preparedness, Eisenchek said.

Eisenchek told the board that Vision is asking for a two-year extension to the district's current contract so the vendor can amortize the infrastructure cost of tablets, cellular service and other equipment needed to deploy the system. Director Isaac Ching asked for clarification on ownership and costs; Eisenchek said the district would have the software at the end of the contract period and Vision would purchase the equipment and initially cover cellular costs. The district also plans to include the Wayfinder requirement in the next RFP for routing technology.

Board members asked about timing, parent notifications for delayed buses, and budget impacts. Eisenchek said the vendor anticipates lead times that might prevent the system's availability for the immediate start of school but that the district budgeted related costs for 2026-27. The administration will return with a formal contract in July for board action.

No formal action was taken at this meeting; the MOU was presented for initial consideration and will be on the July agenda.","Administration presented a memorandum of agreement with Vision to add Wayfinder turn-by-turn routing and student on/off tracking to the district's transportation system; the vendor requests a two-year contract extension to cover infrastructure costs and the district plans to bring a formal vote to the July meeting.",{"_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},6553488,"Board adopts standard facilities-use procedures, removes special Little Theater exception",489,1297000,1786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93&start=1297&end=1786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93/thumbnail_1297000.jpg","/articles/6553488/Minnesota/Board-adopts-standard-facilities-use-procedures-removes-special-Little-Theater-exception","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553488-2f7a6121a369f722e2527d0d7ea705ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570558&Signature=oD73vGK1EeFZ8EoKbEcvl8Jt~QGFMx40SYo9KYXqn4Xp1K-k1HGONFXvksxJNLI-~S0NyeI3x9hwuW-vo4WVjmObqalOJ6Uk3kyfDBGDO3oLrRrhl7tW335IJ8XfntlMvcYPZi991DT3i6I3Tk1ZdqJgmTMdlFANCz~GLTVKsr9y7ZtotjcZQ~q-7QwFRtQiaygJ~rh~eeHiVO6ZrLZCwxiuPgUIgnuJjajqqTS2sdgHo6B64G~sLxtKTIY1NIiPK3FAsx0r2YvdCNGzVfTmzxd4lh-XzzVv6NqPU5wMYFNTadk0l-v6hWQ9LTH-bulTnF44kP7SBqFJOk2CI6g-xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elk River School District Board voted to adopt a standardized facilities-use procedure for all district spaces, eliminating a special, separate page of procedures that had applied only to the Elk River Little Theater.

Director Frentzen presented the proposed change, explaining that the Little Theater previously had a special priority and fee-exemption schedule that differed from district practice. Under the older Little Theater procedure, the City of Elk River, Elk River theater arts groups, and some nonprofit organizations were given scheduling priority or exempted from facility rental fees. Frentzen said moving to district-wide procedures would make scheduling and fees consistent across facilities.

Under the district's regular procedures, uses are categorized by type: Category A (district uses), Category B (local tax‑supported public agencies not charged rental fees), and Category C (local service and charitable groups where at least 75% of attendees reside in the district). Frentzen noted an example rate under the district practice: $37 per hour for rentals under four hours. He also explained that staffing and technical-support costs would be reviewed based on event size and technical needs rather than using the Little Theater's older, fixed staffing expectations.

Board members asked clarifying questions about custodial coverage and summer-hour availability. The board approved the updated facilities-use recommendation on a voice vote.

The change is intended to provide consistent treatment and equitable fees across district facilities while preserving arrangements that allow community groups to use school spaces.","The board approved a recommendation to standardize facilities-use procedures across the district, removing a unique Little Theater policy that previously gave scheduling and fee priority to City of Elk River and community theater groups.",{"_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},6553491,"Board directs seating and carpet replacement at Elk River Little Theater by end of 2026",183,1040000,1223000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93&start=1040&end=1223","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93/thumbnail_1040000.jpg","/articles/6553491/Minnesota/Board-directs-seating-and-carpet-replacement-at-Elk-River-Little-Theater-by-end-of-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553491-5f0e20ec417eb9ac214ab5535a36f239/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570558&Signature=G4V0rKoUk6uqMzEKHdRZ4LNXVXhmwdJRibHvoLDWekmHBC4cC3CoO015dujLYp~YlK2eFi1ljEfEohtxvZO7~FuN0SFusbMr1QX~yItxpVmprdSpHYjaNikvjWrUhFYYoPSy3cDjwJuIivVXjM4ztT6zGtxhUkrbvCCEj537PlmAeXm7pyep2yiV5L5OyNte5lWuxlK9jecvD1XF6gCHdTzos7Lydh8iKZUHtLA0luDo8QGpHKbBo5yv~a86ARD-Gz0~7a7sKyJINMvBKQQTqet6z1NvPfo~TYA6UbhjR~nxpXg1QsCYFe~XU~Jzn06Q-SQVusr5~9D9YiRBQU4nSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elk River School District Board voted to direct the superintendent to renovate the Elk River High School Little Theater with new seats and carpeting to be completed no later than the end of calendar year 2026.

Director Steinbrecher moved the recommendation: \"I recommend the school board to approve carpeting and seats in the Elk River Little Theater to be completed by the end of the calendar year 2026,\" and another director seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Board discussion focused on scope and timing. Vice Chair Freberg and other directors said they preferred a limited renovation—new seats and carpet—to avoid triggering building-code review that would accompany larger changes. The administration advised the board that adding scope (for example, increasing capacity or other structural work) could trigger code- and ADA-related upgrades and require additional review and expense.

Superintendent Almos and district staff said the work could be timed to minimize school disruption; options discussed included doing the work during summer 2026 or possibly during winter break depending on vendor and supplier timelines. A board member suggested adding small safety upgrades such as stair lighting; administrators indicated they would review such items but recommended keeping the initial scope minimal to avoid more extensive code work.

The motion directs the district to proceed with seating and carpeting and gave administrators some flexibility to address necessary safety items discovered during the project. The board's action is intended to honor prior commitments in the referendum and to preserve the space for community use.","The board authorized renovations limited to seating and carpeting at the Elk River High School Little Theater, directing the administration to complete work by the end of calendar year 2026 and seek minimal scope to avoid triggering broader code upgrades.",{"_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},6553493,"Elk River board approves 10-year long-term facilities maintenance plan",274,112000,386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93&start=112&end=386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067506-f7a7bf29d18f59a5e279b870df548f93/thumbnail_112000.jpg","/articles/6553493/Minnesota/Elk-River-board-approves-10-year-long-term-facilities-maintenance-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553493-cc23b9493e7f940c778d1c1d3c530c68/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570558&Signature=m6yZOvhTm75PfE-9LZBwBQqeuBKUso0hS5rdmQnQfKBhFTB~cy2zE-vCSLrgpse-cW6HApLnux2ZYUwO1Yvb2OyIQ-qPD40Uy9HaMU2XG2mnfQ9r2jNyny-VTfNhBiWSlhTlAIuNwBQ~ePZTDQgHFcYLJ-4zoteRgQ2gbm4wnX1b5o9iyxAfk-F0FlpX5urI200funI8V2Ryk-ubqv8WZLzwc95tnPbdf-jcgPaKS7lIJJawfVVTxQjnM3BPiU7FPVFMvYRKeawGVWLqunDECWgAJw8gnJygUXGG8rDygYk-ORCQ-ZW7kgFRBzy6ELRNxIQwxzj3iUTrgFkR2g-oBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elk River School District Board on a voice vote approved the district's 10-year Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) plan, which pairs LTFM funds with remaining referendum revenue and projects routine and planned building work through 2031.

Kim Eisenchek, Business Services director for Elk River School District, told the board the referendum approved by voters totaled $113,000,000 and that interest earnings raised the available total to about $116,500,000. \"I am here to ask for your approval of the LTFM plan. It's a 10 year plan,\" Eisenchek said during the presentation. She said roughly $3.5 million in interest has been earned on referendum funds and that the district has ongoing projects that will draw on both referendum and LTFM funding.

The plan shown to the board details projected revenue and expenditures for the next 10 years and itemizes the first four years because those are the years in which LTFM funds will be spent in partnership with referendum proceeds. Eisenchek described routine district maintenance categories (examples: HVAC/electrical repairs, chillers, parking-lot crack-filling and restriping) and singled out an annual health-and-safety budget line the district expects to spend about $900,000 a year on.

Board members asked about a projected dip in LTFM spending around 2031. \"So with that, I'd open it up to the board for any questions,\" Eisenchek said; Director Steinbrecher pressed the district for clarity on the 2031 reduction, noting that maintenance on 22 buildings will continue to be costly. Eisenchek replied the decline reflects planning assumptions and would give the board flexibility to redirect funds to address capacity needs in the south part of the district if the board chooses.

Eisenchek also explained the district plans to request LTFM bonds every two cycles to ensure the funded referendum and maintenance promises are completed. The board voted by voice to recommend school board approval of the plan; the motion carried.

The district will submit the required LTFM documents to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) so the plan can be used for levy, aid, and bond-authority calculations. Eisenchek emphasized the revenue side includes levy and aid projections and debt-service assumptions tied to periodic bond requests.

The board's vote was a recommendation to approve the 10-year LTFM document so the district can forward it to state authorities and continue planned procurement and bidding steps for projects that meet bid thresholds.","The Elk River School District board voted to approve a 10-year Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) plan that pairs LTFM funds with remaining referendum dollars and anticipates periodic LTFM bond requests to pay for deferred building projects and routine infrastructure needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves Minnesota State High School League membership amid public comments on transgender policy

District previews Memorandum of Agreement with Vision for student bus tracking; vote planned for July

Board adopts standard facilities-use procedures, removes special Little Theater exception

Board directs seating and carpet replacement at Elk River Little Theater by end of 2026

Elk River board approves 10-year long-term facilities maintenance plan