School board approves budget, fees, staffing guidelines and school name; several measures pass unanimously

The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board (ISD 196) approved a slate of administrative and fiscal items during its Jan. 13 organizational meeting, including the district's final 2024–25 budget, a revised preschool tuition schedule, staffing allocation guidelines for fiscal 2026 and the official name for the new elementary school.

The board voted 5-0 to adopt the final budget and to approve a proposed tuition schedule for the Connections preschool program for 2025–26. Members also voted 5-0 to add the state-required personal finance course to graduation requirements beginning with the current ninth-grade class, and to move the district's safety education graduation requirement to an elective so the district's total required credits remain at 66. The board approved the district's 2025 legislative platform and adopted a language access plan with a 5-0 vote. The board approved staffing allocation guidelines for fiscal year 2026; that motion carried on a 4-0 vote due to one board member's temporary absence. Finally, the board voted 5-0 to name the new building Emerald Trail Elementary School.

Votes at a glance - Approval of agenda: motion carried 5-0. (Motion: approve agenda; mover/second recorded as Sakowdin/Leah.) - Election of board officers (2025): Chair Corey Johnson, Vice Chair Anna Williams, Clerk Sikowden (by acclamation), Treasurer Leah Gardner — appointments by acclamation; no recorded roll-call vote. - Consent agenda: approved 5-0. (Included 27 items such as committee appointments, minutes, gifts/grants, personnel agreements and MOUs.) - Move safety education from required course to elective and add state-required personal finance course (keeps required credits at 66): approved 5-0. (Motion by Jackie, second by Sikowden.) - Connections preschool fees (2025–26): approved 5-0. (Motion by Anna, second by Jackie.) - Final 2024–25 budget: approved 5-0. (Motion by Sikowdin, second by Leah.) - 2025 legislative platform: approved 5-0. (Motion by Leah, second by Sikowdin.) - District 196 language access plan: approved 5-0. (Motion by Sikowdin, second by Leah.) - Staffing allocation guidelines for FY2026: approved (motion carried 4-0; one member absent at vote). (Motion by Jackie, second by Sikowden.) - Name for new elementary school (Elementary #20): Emerald Trail Elementary School, approved 5-0. (Motion by Anna, second by Jackie.)

What changed and next steps - Graduation credits: The district will add the state-required personal finance course for students in the current ninth grade and beyond. Safety education will remain available but as an elective beginning in the 2025–26 school year; administration will convene community engagement and return recommendations to the board in May. - Preschool tuition: Community education staff said the proposed fee increase is intended to address a budget shortfall and align fees with a market study of neighboring districts. - Budget and staffing: The approved final budget book will be published to the district website. Staffing guidelines will inform allocations for the next school year and account for the new elementary school openings.

All formal motions and recorded tallies referenced above appear in the meeting record and vote rolls posted with the Jan. 13 board minutes.