Amy Scalarud, identified in the meeting as the district's executive director presenting the MDE review and comment summary, told the school board the district submitted the required documentation for proposed construction projects and received a positive review and comment letter back from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Scalarud said MDE received no public comments on the proposed projects as of Feb. 12 and that state statute requires the district to present the MDE summary at a public meeting; Scalarud noted the district had also published the required two-page summary in its official newspaper.

Scalarud described the contents of the district's submission to MDE as including information on existing facilities, identified needs, proposed projects, financing mechanisms and budget information. "We did receive back a positive review in comment from MDE," she said.

Later in the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Lori Putnam spoke about the district's upcoming referendum materials and community outreach. Putnam described the referendum as two questions: Question 1 focused on safety and learning updates at Apollo High School and is framed as a required first question; Question 2 would fund an indoor multipurpose athletic center on the Apollo campus and would be considered only if Question 1 passes, Putnam said. Putnam described ongoing community outreach and said district staff had been presenting to community groups to explain the purpose of the questions.

Putnam provided basic timing information to the board: she said early voting is available at the district office and that voting will continue through April 8 (the general-election date). Putnam encouraged community members to learn more through the district referendum website and said administration has presented community briefings to civic groups and higher-education partners.

The presentation of the MDE review was an information item; the board did not take an action on the construction projects during the meeting.