Board approves agenda, consent items, student‑cellphone policy and employee health plan at March 10 meeting

The District 196 school board took several formal actions at its March 10 meeting, including approval of the meeting agenda, a multi‑item consent agenda, adoption of an updated student cell phone policy (Policy 503), and approval of employee group health plan changes.

Agenda and consent items

The board first approved the meeting agenda by motion. The chair recorded the vote: "Motion by Anna, second by Jackie. All those in favor of approval, say aye... Motion carries on a 7 0 vote," as stated in the meeting transcript.

Later the board approved a consent agenda that included 22 items. The listed consent items included minutes from prior meetings, quarterly gifts and advertising revenue reports, grants, treasury reports and investment schedules, personnel matters, a joint powers agreement with Dakota County for emergency response funds, roof rehabilitation and flooring replacement projects, a designation of county right of access for Rosemount Middle, retired iPad/laptop sale requests, requests for bids, and agreements for Eastview High School activity center addition and a mass notification system, among others. The transcript records the motion and the chair's announcement that "Motion carries on 8, 7, 0 vote" after the motion to approve the consent agenda.

Policy 503 (student cell phones) — second reading and adoption

General Counsel Jill Coyle presented proposed changes to Policy 503 (Student Rights and Responsibilities), with an emphasis on the new Section 7 addressing student possession and use of cell phones. Coyle said the revisions reflect a 2024 Minnesota law requiring districts to adopt a student cell phone policy and generally codify the district's existing protocols: phones off and away during the instructional day, with exceptions (for high school students during lunch and passing time, for teacher‑authorized instructional use, and for disability accommodations with administrator approval). The policy also includes an absolute prohibition on cell phone use in bathrooms and locker rooms and a direction for schools to set building‑level rules consistent with the policy.

The board voted to adopt the policy on second reading. The transcript shows the motion carried: "Motion carries on a six‑zero vote." The updated policy language is incorporated into the district's rules and staff noted future legislative changes at the state level would prompt any needed revisions.

Employee group health plan

Shelly Munson, director of human resources, presented an exhibit on the district's employee group health plan. Munson said the district has operated a self‑funded health plan with HealthPartners since 2012 and has experienced recent double‑digit premium increases. The district's insurance committee recommended and the administration requested approval to implement premium changes for plan year starting July 1: a 15% premium rate increase for the district's deductible plan and an 18% rate increase for the co‑pay plan (the committee recommended moving toward a single plan in a future year). The board approved the exhibit; the transcript records the motion carried on a 6 0 vote.

Other formal motions

The board approved the consent agenda and other routine motions during the meeting as recorded in the meeting transcript. The board also approved adjournment by motion; the transcript records the final vote as "Motion carries on a 6 0 vote."