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ISD 191 board approves superintendent contract, bond refunding and several budget resolutions in unanimous votes
Summary
The ISD 191 Board of Education approved a series of business items May 22, including the superintendent’s employment contract and a $33.325 million refunding bond sale that produced nearly $2.9 million in interest savings.
The ISD 191 Board of Education completed several formal business actions during its May 22 meeting, approving a new superintendent contract, facility maintenance budgets, a multi‑year election equipment cost share and a refunding bond sale that produced multimillion‑dollar savings.
Superintendent contract and consent items
The board voted unanimously to approve the employment contract for the district’s superintendent, Doctor Latanya Daniels, after the board voted May 7 to offer her the position and negotiations concluded. "All those in favor say aye," Chair Werb said; the motion carried unanimously.
Other consent and business resolutions
The board also took unanimous roll‑call votes to: - Renew membership in the Minnesota State High School League (motion moved by Director Anderson, seconded by Director Chester). - Adopt the ISD 191 Long‑Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) plan and related FY26 budget to inform the state levy timeline (moved by Director Ault, seconded by Director Hume). - Adopt the ISD 917 LTFM plan (Intermediate District 917) as the district’s member contribution (moved by Director Chester, seconded by Director Saxe). - Approve the ProPay (QCOMP) Memorandum of Understanding with the Burnsville Education Association with updated payout and observation counts (moved by Director Hume, seconded by Director Anderson). - Approve a cost‑sharing agreement with Dakota County for updated election hardware, software and related services (moved by Director Anderson, seconded by Director Chester). - Approve board SMART goals for 2025–26 (moved by Director Ault, seconded by Director Anderson).
Refunding bond sale and savings
The board ratified the issuance and sale of general obligation refunding bonds Series 2025A in the original aggregate principal amount of $33,325,000. Aaron Bushberger of the municipal finance team reported a successful sale with 13 bids and a low bid from UBS Financial Services at approximately 3.21 percent. The sale produced estimated interest savings of nearly $2.9 million compared with earlier projections.
"We ended up with savings of almost $3,000,000," said Aaron Bushberger, summarizing the sale day report. The district’s underlying bond rating was double‑A3, staff noted, and the state provides credit enhancement that contributed to favorable results.
What the actions mean
Board members emphasized that the refunding lowers long‑term interest costs and that approval of LTFM budgets was needed to meet state timelines for levy and project planning. The ProPay MOU keeps the district’s QCOMP program in place with adjustments to ensure fiscal sustainability amid enrollment shifts. The election equipment agreement distributes costs across the county, townships, cities and school districts over five years.
Votes and transparency
Most motions were moved, seconded and carried unanimously by roll call. The bond parameters resolution had previously granted signing authority if savings exceeded $500,000; the board’s ratifying vote formalized the sale and documentation.
Ending
The meeting concluded after the board approved the business agenda. Members asked for continued reporting on implementation details tied to the facility plan, bond proceeds and QCOMP adjustments.
