[{"_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",6462066,"mediaKeyId","5812023-59f90dc7f43ea3a42423d5cef46d746f","parentId",5812023,"title","Board approves preliminary levy and teacher contract; routine agenda and consent items pass by voice vote","audioSeconds",332,"startMs",3276000,"endMs",3608000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5812023-59f90dc7f43ea3a42423d5cef46d746f&start=3276&end=3608","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5812023-59f90dc7f43ea3a42423d5cef46d746f/thumbnail_3276000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462066/Minnesota/Board-approves-preliminary-levy-and-teacher-contract-routine-agenda-and-consent-items-pass-by-voice-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462066-d38fe615a431403c8d0ce6748c9219e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773641000&Signature=H--yJ2COO-umDP9qYBWS5ZyzvAna0lErW5oRUx~21KuNo9VNwjIJ~nmmg5nr9dCD7~CQKYgMGhn4WvrH2Xv9PmMGce2rX1F3Gc6F97sVbtZZdDBmWrNu-1G8jY~IGg2x0pp--cc4rRGezm8z-OotYqnjxEmHDWwdbyei-PseTz932VloyQkKw42A05k-q3YCP5gHVtep9LINWsjEmZFfNYUCUQf4hDbGlJIHZYf8R3e9gmmA5gazi3-y7Ud5GDWrlM3C~tR2oLpggousmof8YN6dnqp0ZhTZPIn-pPUdjSTkbOK5y3tHx4EPvNoRZlizUjWzQsX8YR23ovFAqTikjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Prague Area Schools","date","2025-09-23T00:20:29.447Z","article","At the New Prague Area Schools board meeting the board approved several formal items by voice vote and recorded roll-call counts where specified.

Key votes at a glance:

- 2026 preliminary levy (preliminary levy approval): Motion to approve the 2026 preliminary levy was moved and seconded and the board approved the motion by a recorded vote of 6-0. The preliminary levy as presented reflected a decrease of 1.08% from last year's certified levy pending final MDE calculations and did not include any increase that would result from the referendum if it passes.

- Master agreement with the New Prague Education Association (teacher contract): The board approved the master agreement with the New Prague Education Association by a recorded vote of 6-0. The administration noted the association\u0000s membership ratified the agreement by roughly an 80%-20% margin.

- Approval of agenda and approval of consent agenda: Both motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; no numeric roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript and the chair declared the items passed.

- Adjournment: The motion to adjourn was moved and seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote; the transcript recorded the closing result as 6-0.

Each of these approvals was procedural and reflected either routine board housekeeping (agenda and consent) or the specific actions above (preliminary levy and master agreement).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NPAS School Board Meeting, September 22nd, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The New Prague Area Schools board approved the 2026 preliminary levy and a master agreement with the New Prague Education Association (teacher contract) by recorded 6-0 votes; the meeting also moved routine agenda and consent items by voice vote and adjourned after a unanimous voice vote.","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},6462070,"New Prague High School spotlights Intro to Education program, Career & Tech Day with students and community partners",653,98000,751000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5812023-59f90dc7f43ea3a42423d5cef46d746f&start=98&end=751","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5812023-59f90dc7f43ea3a42423d5cef46d746f/thumbnail_98000.jpg","/articles/6462070/Minnesota/New-Prague-High-School-spotlights-Intro-to-Education-program-Career-Tech-Day-with-students-and-community-partners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462070-395ccc919cee29e200fa6da252c8eab7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773641000&Signature=MGJtSROU4qcwfzIkAwLQvVso83grL8Xl9DdmcgOFbjlG0ebS8so39DpYm69UMHvhfMFlJc8vZJePD~zlZHY6P2nW1q4y5I2FzWwZstgJGqAqJlwqj1Dd6EtJxhkbSyFb325MVJ4ip8YNdX79B9IPEUUvsMvI~clS78nE09arwXd~Qj7SOtoI-ryt60wOw360IzlMSmEsLm8kGUY4eT847MeNw3w1bUqWhMf8QHXXuQct86E1BE-x~xiEH1fS9hBhuHsHxtIOj7TIUeoRzF-2BpYaQpBH52lkWp9sl02uRbmJ8hCsgHMB0Q33Pu1dSlSlII8VIqQvBQaM75wKZBorQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Staff and students from New Prague High School presented a spotlight at the New Prague Area Schools board meeting highlighting the Intro to Education course and the district\u0000s Career & Tech Day.

Bridal (activities/athletics) introduced the segment and said the district was \"excited to provide an update about New Prague High School.\" Britney Olsen, the high school\u0000s Intro to Education teacher, described the course structure and partnership with Normandale Community College: the course awards four college credits through Normandale, includes fall and spring field placements (twice weekly in the fall and a Monday-through-Friday placement in the spring), guest speakers from across district roles, and helps students begin professional portfolios.

Olsen said the district will hold its second annual Career & Tech Day on Oct. 2, welcoming more than 55 local and area businesses for sophomores and juniors to explore careers. \"We're very excited on October 2 to have our second annual Career and Tech Day at New Prague High School,\" Olsen said.

Students spoke about their experiences. Sarah Burkey described fall and spring placements at Falcon Ridge and said the program \"gave me confidence in pursuing a career in education and it confirmed that I want to keep working with students in my future.\" Emily Jacobson noted guest speakers, college-credit opportunities and said, \"This program taught me that education is more than teaching. It's a community of dedicated professionals, and I am excited to be a part of it.\"

Program details provided to the board included counts and placements: five students in early childhood placements (birth to pre-K), placements in district early childhood programs and multiple elementary and middle school placements (the presenters noted seven students at two elementary schools and nine at middle school). Olsen also highlighted at least three students exploring special education placements and said she was proud of post-COVID growth in enrollment in the class.

Board members asked about follow-up data on graduates from the program. Olsen said the first cohort (fall 2020) includes graduates now teaching in Minnesota and estimated “about half or more” of recent participants have pursued some form of postsecondary education in teaching after COVID-related disruptions.

Ending: The board thanked students and staff for the presentation; members praised the hands-on experience and the community partnerships that support the program.","Teachers and students described the Intro to Education course, field placements across district schools, and the second annual Career & Tech Day on Oct. 2 with more than 55 local businesses; students shared how field experiences and college credit through Normandale shaped their post-secondary plans.",{"_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},6462073,"Superintendent details $2 million operating referendum to preserve class sizes, bus routes and programming",1486,1878000,3364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5812023-59f90dc7f43ea3a42423d5cef46d746f&start=1878&end=3364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5812023-59f90dc7f43ea3a42423d5cef46d746f/thumbnail_1878000.jpg","/articles/6462073/Minnesota/Superintendent-details-2-million-operating-referendum-to-preserve-class-sizes-bus-routes-and-programming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462073-ff28806dc5a721d35608b06808eedebe/orig.mp4?Expires=1773641000&Signature=fswuCzfpPaZAd8ThaC4hSUPwoPXpKAEvy0LAbXtygaVWX2oya365MpVFUSJ6WLDivNjSlK6X4glr5t18NxtrCwxNZBz25ha9NS2NXggiRwEiWgVZh4k9ciPBYk9F0LRk6EhSqJiLNvzsSL-rbf4KAdpf4HQrTw3B~ZqaC5RAM95psveqn6E1K-UVAh40KhbjWxYIB8sZG-iVqNkSZVNRPEf82ECjMS-KUeKpPrvSIW7UGbkyHhXlo1Me77LcIRPgbn4WJzeBymWy2HUzAXlZTsogqJwLtWAKSVL6X11kf3HKqgVGJI~GGj3LxFI37eHlA2Teg1nwrtfAzXYSytG-rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Valmute presented details of a proposed operating referendum at the New Prague Area Schools board meeting, asking voters to consider a $2,000,000-per-year increase for 10 years to help maintain class sizes, bus routes and programming.

Valmute said the district refined the question after community feedback and a commissioned survey and emphasized the proposal is informational. “I\u0000m not telling you how to vote,” Valmute said, adding site teams and a citizens advocacy group are providing community outreach. The district posted a property-tax calculator at mpaschools.org/referendum to let homeowners estimate impacts.

Why it matters: Valmute described four primary uses for the levy revenue: maintain current class-size averages, maintain current bus routes and walking-distance policies, maintain existing programming (notably the seven-period day at the middle and high school), and avoid future budget reductions. She said the request would amount to roughly $20 per month for a home valued at $400,000 under the district\u0000s assumptions.

Details presented: Valmute said the district\u0000s average class sizes are 24 at the elementary level, 31 at middle school and 30 at high school. She said reducing class sizes would require a larger levy than the $2,000,000 proposed; the current request is aimed at holding present averages rather than lowering them. The proposal is structured as an operating levy (taxing a home, garage and one acre) rather than a bond, so farmland acreage beyond one acre would not be taxed for this question.

Valmute summarized fiscal context: the district has enacted roughly $7 million in prior structural reductions and cost containment, and around 83% of district revenue comes from the state, with roughly 12% coming from local property taxes. She said New Prague Area Schools ranks near the bottom of Minnesota districts on revenue per pupil (characterizing the district as in the bottom 4% statewide) and that even with this levy the district would remain well below the state average per-pupil revenue.

On the renewal/waiver question, Valmute corrected earlier remarks and clarified that a district may use a renewal/waiver one time per ballot question; if this referendum passes, the board could use that option again for a future question. Director Cuff had raised the renewal question during discussion; Valmute said her prior answer had been incorrect and that she wanted to put the corrected interpretation on the record.

Early voting and outreach: Valmute said early voting had begun and encouraged community members to attend informational sessions or use the district website to learn more. She said some extended early-voting hours and weekend sessions were scheduled, and that staff would respond to emailed questions.

What the board said: Board members made brief comments during and after the presentation. One board member said the presentation was factual and did not use scare tactics; Valmute characterized the listed program and service reductions as the \"logical consequences\" the district might face if additional revenue is not approved.

The referendum presentation was informational; no board vote on the referendum question occurred at the meeting.

Ending: Valmute closed by inviting questions, reminding the public of the web resources, and noting that the district will continue outreach in the weeks before the election.","At a New Prague Area Schools board meeting, Superintendent Valmute presented a $2 million-a-year, 10-year operating referendum intended to maintain current class sizes, bus routes and programming and to avoid further budget reductions; the presentation included enrollment and revenue-per-student data, program impacts and early-voting information.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves preliminary levy and teacher contract; routine agenda and consent items pass by voice vote

New Prague High School spotlights Intro to Education program, Career & Tech Day with students and community partners

Superintendent details $2 million operating referendum to preserve class sizes, bus routes and programming