Lakeville board votes to remove district’s inclusive poster series and adopt new academics-focused campaign

The Lakeville Area Schools board voted 4-3 on Jan. 28, 2025, to remove the district's Inclusive Series posters from district property and direct staff to develop a new academics- and excellence-focused poster series for schools.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment in which students, parents, teachers and other residents urged opposing positions, and a staff briefing that cited ongoing litigation over the poster series. Superintendent Michael Baumann told the board that the legal dispute over the posters has been active for more than three years and that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit revived the plaintiffs' case in Cajun v. Independent School District 194, prompting the district to bring the matter into open session for a public vote.

The question mattered to students and families who said the posters signaled safety and belonging. Several students told the board the posters helped them feel welcome. Natalie Kaye, a resident speaking during public comment, argued that the posters were "political and divisive" and urged removal; Austin Meyer, a Lakeville North High School teacher, told the board that students said the signs made them feel safe and supported. Superintendent Baumann said the posters had been placed before the current board's tenure and that legal and procedural questions about how they were approved contributed to the dispute.

Board members debated research, legal risk and community sentiment. Director Amber Cameron and Director Carly Anderson cited peer-reviewed work and district feedback supporting the posters' positive effects on students from underrepresented groups. Anderson, a board member and neuropsychologist, cited research showing symbolic classroom features can affect student performance and said, "symbols inform students whether they are valued learners and belong within the classroom." Director Brett Nicholson and others raised legal concerns based on the Eighth Circuit decision and urged a fresh start and strict neutrality so the district would not risk further litigation.

Chair Matt Swanson moved to remove the posters from all district property; Paul Carbone seconded the motion. Director Brian (Bridal) Thompson offered an amendment to replace the series with a new campaign focused on academics and student excellence; the amended motion ultimately carried on a roll-call vote: Thompson, Carbone, Nicholson and Swanson voted yes; Anderson, Kim Baker and Amber Cameron voted no.

The board did not adopt a final design or implementation timetable at the meeting. Superintendent Baumann and trustees agreed administration will return with a plan for a new series, and several board members suggested the new campaign should be developed with student and community involvement and should include clear board policy governing displays to avoid future legal exposure.

The board meeting also included repeated requests by members that the administration and board follow a clarified, transparent process for approving any future on-wall displays. Several trustees asked that draft display policies and stakeholder input be collected before new posters are printed and installed.

The motion and the deliberations do not change any classroom practices beyond wall displays and do not address curriculum; board members repeatedly emphasized that instruction and staff expectations remain unchanged. The board scheduled follow-up discussion in upcoming meetings for policy review and for administration to present a proposal for a replacement poster series and an associated adoption process.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to remove the Inclusive Series posters and direct administration to replace them with an academics/excellence-themed poster series: Passed, 4-3 (Yes: Brian [Bridal] Thompson, Paul Carbone, Brett Nicholson, Matt Swanson. No: Carly Anderson, Kim Baker, Amber Cameron).