[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",7312445,"mediaKeyId","5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12","parentId",5089368,"title","Forest Lake board allows student-led clubs for older secondary students, keeps discipline review after months of heated public comment","audioSeconds",3254,"startMs",481000,"endMs",3735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12&start=481&end=3735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12/thumbnail_481000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/7312445/Minnesota/Forest-Lake-board-allows-student-led-clubs-for-older-secondary-students-keeps-discipline-review-after-months-of-heated-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/7312445-2599adb2e097539c39601641c1a1ba54/orig.mp4?Expires=1771031562&Signature=RcfQ4wULyUKixYHIDLqjezALCshDkMiBcopMr~U4YnIsrK7R1Jpc7CQ1ZenR0MbYpUgyAOxVEUmnvlmW2AzMwPonDVaGrjb0auRGE~0ROYfWYbwUV2a0RUOa9ixfXBmHb2pdK-AYS1TwFpBmAlp9rO1F1~DMj~2-4lJG2h-BFHicTupdOtvlN5jQiCplaXrmY5kpodSYb-DFK3NRBqmH1nIIX8KOcqcydXKj9fiJRw9IH9EQYbVXWz~vQQOyDB3RdhPTKgb2IPfsqs7BLtdSWW4LFiURKDOXt7LXHugWjwaMsALzy6cyZCZyBpwpNBQ3cj1yg3s8rrIVwAI6ZcASTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Forest Lake Public School District","date","2025-06-27T04:42:58Z","article","The Forest Lake Area School Board voted on June 26 to approve an amended policy that will allow limited open-forum student groups at the high school, the district’s community school and for eighth graders in the middle school, after months of public comment and multiple motions at the meeting.

The decision came after a lengthy public comment period in which dozens of residents, students, teachers and former district leaders urged the board either to keep explicit prohibitions on symbols associated with white supremacy and genocide in the discipline policy (Policy 5-15) or to preserve student clubs and after-school activities that residents said are critical to students’ mental health and sense of belonging.

The board passed the amended equal-access policy (Policy 18-01) after an earlier motion on the item failed and the board later used a motion to reconsider. The final policy language, as adopted, requires student-initiated groups and restricts limited open-forum status to high school, the community school and eighth graders at the middle school. The board also removed a draft requirement that student groups be reestablished annually, leaving the rule that groups must be student initiated. The vote on final adoption was a roll-call recorded as: Antonson — yes; Corcoran — yes; Christensen — yes; Haglund — no; Tyson — yes; Castle — yes; Rebeline/Revaline — yes.

Why it matters: The changes determine whether and how student organizations that are not school-sponsored operate on campus — a status that affects whether they must have district-paid advisers and what limits, if any, the district can place on content. Supporters of keeping explicit bans on specific symbols argued that listing items such as the Confederate battle flag, swastikas and Ku Klux Klan imagery in the discipline policy gives administrators clear authority to intervene quickly. Opponents warned that listing specific items can be incomplete and preferred administration discretion tied to the legal standard for disruption.

What board members and commenters said: Community members packed the boardroom and lined the agenda’s public-comment period with speakers concerned the proposed policy changes would either allow hate imagery or curb student clubs.

• Lynn Dufresne, a Forest Lake resident who worked in the district for more than 30 years, urged the board not to change the dress-code language and recounted seeing Confederate flags and racially motivated incidents decades ago, saying, “There is no room for hate in this community.”

• Rob Raphael, identified as a long-time former board member, told the board the Confederate flag is “a symbol of racism” and urged preserving language that explicitly bans it.

• Students and recent graduates spoke repeatedly about safety and the value of clubs. Nicholas Fox, a tenth-grade student, said changes that make clubs harder to form would increase feelings of being unsafe for transgender and LGBTQ students.

• Several speakers, including former superintendent Linda Madsen and former mayor Mara Bain, urged the board to keep clear language in the discipline policy specifically banning symbols that have historically been used to intimidate and threaten students of color and other groups.

Board debate and next steps: Board members debated competing priorities — the administrators’ argument for a broadly worded standard consistent with Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) model language, and community calls to keep explicit prohibitions because of Forest Lake’s local history. Administration and several board members said student clubs and extracurricular activities have strong positive effects on graduation rates and student well-being and should be supported.

On Policy 5-15 (discipline), administration had asked the board to adopt model language while keeping explicit references to the Confederate flag, swastikas and KKK symbols. Rather than adopt a final change at the meeting, the board voted to refer Policy 5-15 back to the policy committee for further work and clarification; the policy in effect at the start of the next school year will remain the district’s current policy. Board members said the policy committee will return recommended revisions in a future meeting.

Votes at a glance:
- Policy 18-01 (Equal access to school facilities, amended): approved by roll call (Antonson — yes; Corcoran — yes; Christensen — yes; Haglund — no; Tyson — yes; Castle — yes; Rebeline/Revaline — yes). Outcome: approved. Notes: final text limits limited open-forum groups to high school, community school and eighth graders at the middle school, and retains the requirement that groups be student initiated.
- Policy 5-15 (Discipline / dress code): board referred the proposed revisions back to the policy committee for further work (motion to refer passed). Outcome: referral; no final change at this meeting.

What to watch next: The policy committee will reconvene and refine the discipline policy’s language. Administration and the committee will likely return with specific procedural language and with guidance about how student-initiated groups will be documented and supervised.

Provenance: The public-comment sequence and the board’s votes are recorded in the meeting transcript where community members spoke in succession (excerpts cited below). Evidence excerpts included below capture representative public comments and the board’s roll-call statements about the final adopted wording.

Ending: Board members and administration said they will continue to work with families, students and the policy committee to implement the changes and to write procedures intended to keep students safe while protecting student voice and lawful expression.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 26, 2025 - School Board Meeting of Forest Lake Area Schools","oneSentenceSummary","After months of public comment and several procedural votes, the Forest Lake Area School Board approved a revised equal-access policy allowing limited open-forum student groups for grades 8–12 and referred changes to the district discipline policy back to the policy committee for more work.","taxTitle","FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",65366,"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},7312440,"Forest Lake High School says class of 2025 reached estimated 94% graduation; district estimates 90%",180,4140000,4320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12&start=4140&end=4320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12/thumbnail_4140000.jpg","/articles/7312440/Minnesota/Forest-Lake-High-School-says-class-of-2025-reached-estimated-94-graduation-district-estimates-90","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/7312440-0cdfef2915f2a67520c09a7667be0caf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771031562&Signature=BnRg9jUebTkGLsGdsDf9TS2ySh0UfnM6MCZlDDlSovq3GveiM4luVvS5w~IelkG4PpNs-RKVIiHEy5MOUPZKnIAQVnvE0EtzPSa3yBYLZRC2KBkdp78nGlkmd8fVBZK5Hs5wYKJuGhK3qj5aEsbHOxD3KfdgysKi74Mn~cH0aVDvhPakaq3RAOLqG~Zopf2rscJv1F-H94s1z-iqq4r0DHXQH8FF5ILoLDhMB7SW-Bw9Pko~XMXdH0wCeNCpplAmpwXhV~j50FQj4LNiuGDRhAyVCi1amVmnzWVRTt0aS8eqg72Q7ktAxfMm8nAuD1H5n-qWjFaESfZlAiJ8VnG2BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forest Lake Area School Board heard a school achievement presentation on June 26 from Forest Lake Area High School principal Tom Caldwell, who summarized outcomes for the Class of 2025 and recent district academic work.

Caldwell presented an estimated high-school graduation rate of about 94% for the class — a figure he said the district calculates internally — and an estimated district-wide graduation rate of roughly 90%. He said the senior class began the year with about 75% of students on track to graduate and that the district’s interventions helped raise the eventual figure.

Caldwell said the senior class included students who pursued a variety of postsecondary paths: about 45% planned four-year college routes, 21% planned two-year college, 5% apprenticeships and 5% military service, with the remainder entering the workforce, taking gap years, or pursuing other options. He highlighted the district’s participation in “Direct Admissions,” a state program that provided college acceptance letters with waived application fees for students who enrolled in the program.

The principal also described the school’s career-pathway work and Career and Technical Education offerings: 112 students were reported as concentrated in engineering/manufacturing/technology pathways, 82 in health sciences and more than 50 college-level courses offered through the school. Caldwell spotlighted individual student stories and the range of career and college admissions, from in-state public universities to out-of-state technical programs and military service.

Board discussion focused on the mechanics behind the numbers and how to interpret assessment results: Member Castle asked about the relationship between MCA participation and state-reported measures; Caldwell said some top-performing students opt out of the state test, which can skew MCA-based published results downward. Members praised staff for intervention work that helped students recover credits and finish on time.

Why it matters: The graduation and college/career data are metrics the district uses to measure progress after challenges posed by the pandemic. Board members and administrators said the data illustrated the district’s investments in career pathways, extra supports and targeted interventions.

Provenance: Principal Caldwell’s presentation and board questions are recorded in the transcript. Representative excerpts are cited below.

Ending: Board members applauded the work and said they want to continue supporting career-pathway programs and interventions that help students graduate and enter postsecondary programs, apprenticeships or the workforce.","Principal Tom Caldwell presented a snapshot of the Class of 2025, reporting an estimated 94% graduation rate for the high school and a district-wide rate near 90%, and highlighted career-pathway participation and college admissions.",{"_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},6694944,"Forest Lake board keeps ban on Confederate flag, KKK and swastika; allows student-led after‑school clubs for grades 8–12 after packed public comment",14328,72000,14400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12&start=72&end=14400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12/thumbnail_72000.jpg","/articles/6694944/Minnesota/Forest-Lake-board-keeps-ban-on-Confederate-flag-KKK-and-swastika-allows-student-led-afterschool-clubs-for-grades-812-after-packed-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6694944-81fc2b52ef281c9efe9653253d32a8e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771031562&Signature=aySW1F0OfcpMtS0mUNtoWVuKUftt8ZgZu7UJQS8b9UWZIOJ2d41AMPqHQhgjNbM945lQB~zTyc8D9VhBSaZVX6j1qhHL7Pzvukc-KvaspN6ga-83XsPVkrE6eq4yjFum4SJE86Gb~SnMP33cysv8G20jLh65CJkOU-kUNerheQNV3ESSV9Gkz7uzk8dAqWo3Qlgrn6SCKRVZJOpPgWjaPsh54kqQHUmaJqgK3TqMx6mUlKbtYnut3ibVfS1BRm8PXzDbWM6043YKGu~Jq50hVdSmPEW6MJQ2HoBS7RpMw4508oLvl2-LevW1bA8H4y9YNhhBDAd8AN7cPrpjU7IMlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Forest Lake — The Forest Lake Area School Board spent much of its June 26 meeting responding to overflowing public comment and then voted to adopt a revised “limited open forum” policy allowing student‑led after‑school groups at the high school, at the community school and for eighth graders at the middle school, while also referring a separate proposed change to the district dress‑code policy to the policy committee for further review.

Why it matters: Hundreds of community members, teachers, students and elected officials packed the board room and used the meeting’s green‑card public‑comment process to press the board to retain clear, specific prohibitions on symbols associated with racial and religious terror. Speakers said they feared that removing explicit references to the Confederate battle flag, KKK insignia and Nazi swastika would signal permission for displays of hate and would make some students unsafe.

Public comment and themes

More than two dozen speakers addressed the board on policies 05‑15 (discipline/dress code) and 18‑01 (limited open forum). Many commenters urged the board to keep explicit language in the dress code banning specific symbols. Jenny R., who identified herself as a Forest Lake parent, told the board, “There is no room for hate in this community,” and asked board members to “leave your personal religious ideology or racist, transphobic, homophobic, etcetera views at the door.”

Longtime residents and educators recounted the district’s history. Lynn Dufresne, who said she worked for the district “for over 30 years,” told the board she remembered news coverage from the civil‑rights era and said the “Confederate battle flag…was a symbol of white supremacy.” Several former district employees and parents — including former superintendent Linda Madsen — urged keeping the wording that explicitly lists the Confederate flag, swastikas and KKK imagery as prohibited.

Students also spoke. Nicholas Fox, a 10th‑grade student, said removing protections made him feel less safe as a trans man: “Feeling not safe in my own community as a trans man hurts me… It makes suicide rates go up,” he said. Principal and supporters, clergy and business owners described community and economic risks if the district were perceived as tolerating hate symbols.

Board action and what changed

- Limited open forum (policy 18‑01): The board first voted and the measure failed on a roll call (3 in favor, 4 opposed). After further discussion and a motion to reconsider, the board approved an amended version of policy 18‑01 that requires groups to be student‑initiated and allows limited open‑forum groups at: the high school, the community school, and eighth grade at the middle school. Final recorded roll call on adoption (after reconsideration): Member Antonson — Aye; Member Corcoran — Aye; Member Christensen — Aye; Member Haglund — No; Member Tyson — Aye; Member Castle — Aye; Member Rebelein — Aye. Tally: 6 yes, 1 no. The policy change will permit student‑led, non‑curriculum groups to meet as limited open‑forum activities in those grades/buildings; administration will implement procedures and oversee compliance.

- Dress‑code discipline policy (05‑15): Board members debated replacing the district’s existing language with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) model wording. Several speakers, the superintendent and others argued the district’s history (an assault and subsequent displays in the late 1990s) justified keeping explicit bans in local policy. The board did not adopt an immediate large change; instead the board voted to commit (send) the draft back to the policy committee for additional work and to report back. The motion to commit passed.

- Multicultural/gender/disability policy (05‑29): After initial procedural confusion and a motion to rescind that failed, the board ultimately adopted the recommended revisions to policy 05‑29 in the meeting’s later votes (unanimous recorded approval on the final motion to adopt).

What the new limited open‑forum policy means, in practice

The adopted version of 18‑01 keeps the requirement that student groups be initiated by students rather than imposed by outside entities and removes mandatory annual re‑establishment of each group (the board amended that language during debate). Administration will write implementing procedures that define how students register groups, how meeting spaces are assigned and how school staff will monitor safety and compliance; the board asked administration to return with further guidance on logistics (for example, how eighth graders will be supported if they participate in groups).

Voices at the meeting

- Jenny R., resident and parent: “There is no room for hate in this community.”
- Lynn Dufresne, former Forest Lake School District employee: “They carried the Confederate battle flag. They carried that flag because it was a symbol of white supremacy.”
- Nicholas Fox, 10th‑grade student: “Feeling not safe in my own community as a trans man hurts me… it makes suicide rates go up.”
- Linda Madsen, former Forest Lake superintendent: “What is best for our students and our community is to keep [the prohibitions] clearly stated in the policy.”
- Pastor John Clowater, Faith Lutheran: warned of rising antisemitic incidents and urged continued explicit prohibitions.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded at the meeting)

- Policy 18‑01 (limited open forum): Adopted as amended to allow student‑initiated limited open‑forum groups at the high school, community school and for eighth graders at the middle school; final roll call 6–1 (yes: Antonson, Corcoran, Christensen, Tyson, Castle, Rebelein; no: Haglund). Legal threshold (simple majority) met: yes.

- Policy 05‑15 (discipline/dress code): Motion to commit to policy committee for further work and return with recommendations — motion passed (committee review requested; no immediate policy adoption). Notes: committee to consider whether to retain explicit list of forbidden symbols or adopt more general MSBA model language.

- Policy 05‑29 (multicultural/gender/disability sensitivity): Adopted as presented after procedural motions (final adoption recorded by roll call on the motion to approve).

- Other formal actions at the meeting included approving donations, approving general employment benefits terms for classified staff (07/01/2024–06/30/2026), and approving consent agenda items; those measures passed by roll call or voice votes recorded in the minutes.

Context and next steps

The debate followed months of public comment, petitions and media coverage. Board members and administration repeatedly invoked the Minnesota School Boards Association model policy, the federal Equal Access Act and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Tinker standard as legal context for limiting or permitting speech and symbols in schools. Superintendent Steve Massey and legal counsel emphasized that districts may restrict displays that can be reasonably forecast to cause a material and substantial disruption.

The board asked administration to return with implementation details for the limited‑open‑forum policy (registration steps, supervision/monitoring, and logistics for eighth‑grade participation) and the policy committee will take up the dress‑code language the board asked it to reexamine. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for July 17, 2025.

Ending

Board members said they hoped the meeting’s extended public comment and the policy discussions would lead to clearer procedures and better community communication. Several speakers left the meeting asking the board to prioritize student safety and inclusion as administrators write the implementing rules.","Forest Lake — The Forest Lake Area School Board spent much of its June 26 meeting responding to overflowing public comment and then voted to adopt a revised “limited open forum” policy allowing student‑led after‑school groups at the high school, at the community school and for eighth graders at the middle school, while referring a proposed change to the dress code to the policy committee for further review.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":81,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6694943,"Principal: Forest Lake High graduates bounce back from pandemic period; 94% of seniors walked at commencement",186,4134000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12&start=4134&end=4320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5089368-bafe0d1ee1c7ff47b9bf442d7c174c12/thumbnail_4134000.jpg","/articles/6694943/Minnesota/Principal-Forest-Lake-High-graduates-bounce-back-from-pandemic-period-94-of-seniors-walked-at-commencement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6694943-11049fea50cd3d5a07290e90591c35f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771031562&Signature=SSrQ5qIW~RkgADxTmXTXyO~E8jvfncQSN6abS~ntr2ARzc6oVxiFGipbIaE2uJaA6EfX3XvyAvcZKukDPLYVY0OqSCvaO8norbbCTmmMMMVewjNT4U8IVlss6nJiOWytjUEu26GK0qP1YVABknc2a8L4f3DzUIenk7Kk8WLWGMCRR~dV5rDXfvPiIc4iD4uXlKGiCSQjfnz8LZL5KM4Y1Cl1iBQkA-h69zNva7qanNXy4Ws24cON2TnQ3Rl~9s6tH1svwBpQ1V1CfU4s~WHc0nW78O1Okdb56Y9IOuICg5weY1hdwTCBKf~0AU3n0CJ~0Q~1wd6fGcaOGb0n2DMk~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Forest Lake — Principal Caldwell delivered a data‑heavy snapshot of the Forest Lake Area High School class of 2025 during the June 26 school board meeting, reporting that the senior class overcame pandemic‑era disruption to reach strong outcomes and that the district is seeing encouraging enrollment and postsecondary indicators.

Why it matters: The board and community repeatedly framed the district’s larger policy debates against the backdrop of academic results and student supports. Administrators told the board the data on diplomas, college admissions and career placements underpin decisions about programs, staffing and student activities.

What the principal reported

Principal Caldwell told the board the class of 2025 “started their senior year with only 75 percent of them on track to graduate” and that staff interventions helped push the high school graduation rate to an estimated 94 percent. He said the district graduation rate stood at about 90 percent and that the community school program showed notable gains (about 68 percent). Caldwell credited teachers, counselors and targeted programs for the improvement.

The principal also highlighted postsecondary measures: roughly 45 percent of graduates plan to attend four‑year colleges, about 21 percent intend to go to two‑year colleges, 5 percent entered apprenticeships, about 5 percent chose military service and the remainder planned to enter the workforce, take a gap year or pursue other options. Caldwell reported that direct‑admissions programs and expanded career‑pathway courses contributed to college offers and trade placements.

Scholarships and special highlights

Superintendent Steve Massey told the board that at the district’s academic awards ceremony the senior class received about $2,300,000 in scholarships and grants. Caldwell highlighted a number of individual student successes — examples of students moving into engineering, nuclear propulsion tech training for Navy service and heavy‑equipment operator apprenticeships — and noted the growth of career and technical education and dual‑credit offerings.

Context and next steps

Superintendent Massey said the district finished the year “with an average of 70 students over our budgeted number,” a sign the district’s enrollment is stabilizing and improving. Board members congratulated administrators and teachers and said the academic performance and graduation outcomes are examples they would like to emphasize as the district implements new policies and procedures over the summer.

Ending

Board members praised staff, counseling and targeted recovery programs for the gains. Administration said it will continue to report metrics to the board and provide details about how successful interventions can be scaled or adjusted for next school year.

","Forest Lake Area High School Principal Caldwell told the school board the class of 2025 recovered academically after pandemic disruption and posted an estimated 94% graduation rate, with districtwide graduation at about 90%; the class also received about $2.3 million in scholarships and grants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Forest Lake board allows student-led clubs for older secondary students, keeps discipline review after months of heated public comment

Forest Lake High School says class of 2025 reached estimated 94% graduation; district estimates 90%

Forest Lake board keeps ban on Confederate flag, KKK and swastika; allows student-led after‑school clubs for grades 8–12 after packed public comment

Principal: Forest Lake High graduates bounce back from pandemic period; 94% of seniors walked at commencement