Board reviews draft remote-participation policy after legislature amended rules

The Minnetonka School Board on Wednesday discussed a draft policy that would allow members to participate remotely in meetings under limited circumstances, reflecting recent changes in Minnesota law. Superintendent Law said the legislature updated the statute governing remote participation (Minnesota Statute 13D.02), and the draft Policy 219 was prepared to align with that change. "The school board shall conduct its business under the presumption of an in person attendance at board meetings. However, the school board recognizes and respects that in limited circumstances, board members may need to participate remotely in board meetings," the draft reads, as read aloud by the superintendent. The board debated several points of wording and procedure. Members asked whether the policy's language implying that remote attendance "will not be required for study sessions" might be read to require remote attendance for other meetings; others proposed clearer phrasing such as saying the board "encourages" in-person attendance but will allow remote participation. Board members also discussed notice requirements for last-minute remote participation and whether votes must be roll call when a member is remote; the draft retains roll-call voting when any member is remote so each vote is identifiable. Superintendent Law and other members suggested removing a specific paragraph (item G) that differentiated study sessions from other meetings; staff recommended replacing a sentence in the purpose to say "the public interest is best served when there's full participation by the board of directors" rather than prioritizing in-person attendance. No final vote was taken; staff said the policy will be revised to reflect the discussion and will move to the consent agenda for approval on Oct. 9.