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Board canvasses April special election, approves nonrenewal resolution and compensatory plan
Summary
The St. Cloud board formally canvassed results of the April 8 special election (both referendum questions passed), approved a preliminary teacher nonrenewal list and adopted the district’s 2025–26 compensatory revenue plan. Several routine consent items were also approved; two board members recused themselves from a donation item.
The St. Cloud Public School District Board of Education on April 16 approved a set of formal actions, including canvassing the April 8 special election results that approved two referendum questions for district projects at Apollo High School, adopting a preliminary nonrenewal resolution affecting 11 probationary teachers and approving the district’s 2025–26 compensatory revenue plan.
Canvass of April 8 special election
The board approved a resolution canvassing returns from the April 8 special election. The district reported 59,875 registered voters on election day and 6,465 voters cast ballots. School district ballot question 1 received 4,017 yes votes and 2,446 no votes; ballot question 2 received 3,503 yes votes and 2,945 no votes. Board members voted unanimously to approve the canvass.
Nonrenewal resolution (preliminary)
Tracy Flynn Bow, the district’s executive director of human resources and labor relations, presented the annual nonrenewal resolution required by statute and said the list before the board contains 11 probationary teachers. Flynn Bow acknowledged public concern raised earlier in the meeting about one choir teacher and said nonrenewal decisions “are never made easily. We charge our principals with making a very clear assessment of teachers over the course of three years,” and that the list is preliminary; teachers on the list can apply for and be rehired into openings that arise later in the spring. The board approved the resolution on a recorded vote.
Compensatory revenue plan for 2025–26
Amy Scalarud, executive director of finance and business services, described the district’s compensatory revenue plan. Scalarud said the district’s total building compensatory allocation for 2025–26 is just over $20,000,000 and that statute allows the district to hold back up to 20% for districtwide allocations; this holdback equals just over $4,000,000 and funds 39 FTE in the plan. Scalarud also noted that the governor’s current budget proposal would reduce the district’s compensatory revenue estimate by $485,000; the board approved the 2025–26 compensatory plan and the 20% holdback on a recorded vote.
Consent agenda and recusals
The board approved the consent agenda (routine minutes, bills and personnel items) with the exception of one donation item (item D), which board members Al Dahlgren and Natalie Copeland recused themselves from reviewing and voting on. The consent agenda referenced bills and financial transactions totaling $3,603,680.31 and several policy updates submitted for third reading.
Other votes and process notes
- Motions and seconders were recorded for each item as follows (recorded at the meeting): the consent agenda motion was moved by Scott Endresen and seconded by Natalie Copeland; item D (donation) was moved, seconded by Zach Dorholt with Dahlgren and Copeland recused; the canvass resolution was moved by Scott Endresen and seconded by Natalie Copeland; the nonrenewal resolution was moved by Natalie Copeland and seconded by Heather Weems; the compensatory revenue plan was moved by Scott Endresen and seconded by Zach Dorholt. All recorded votes on these items carried.
The board discussed procedural context: Flynn Bow emphasized that the nonrenewal list is a statutory, preliminary step and that staffing needs and applicant pools frequently change before the end of the school year; Scalarud emphasized the compensatory plan was conservative because the governor’s budget proposed a reduction. The board scheduled further budget review and policy items for its May 7 work session.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (items a–m, except item d): approved; motion by Scott Endresen, second by Natalie Copeland; recorder votes enumerated in meeting minutes; bills/transactions total $3,603,680.31. - Consent agenda item D (donation/acceptance of gifts): approved with Al Dahlgren and Natalie Copeland recused; motion by (recorded mover) Scott Endresen; second by Zach Dorholt. - Resolution canvassing returns of April 8 special election: approved; motion by Scott Endresen, second by Natalie Copeland; tally: Question 1 — Yes 4,017, No 2,446; Question 2 — Yes 3,503, No 2,945; total votes cast 6,465. - Resolution proposing nonrenewal/placement on unrequested leave (preliminary list of 11 probationary teachers): approved; motion by Natalie Copeland, second by Heather Weems. - 2025–26 compensatory revenue plan (20% district holdback; funds 39 FTE; plan includes reprioritization for special education): approved; motion by Scott Endresen, second by Zach Dorholt.
Each of the above outcomes was recorded in the meeting transcript and minutes. The board’s formal approvals will be reflected in the official minutes and any required statutory notices will be issued per state law.
