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Votes at a glance: Duluth School Board approves bonds, building financing, contracts, grants and personnel actions
Summary
At its October meeting the Duluth School Board approved a package of resolutions including a general obligation bond issuance, certificates of participation for the First Street project, multiple contracts and the acceptance of donations and grants.
The Duluth School Board on Oct. 21 approved a series of resolutions and contracts covering capital financing, collective bargaining agreements, donations and personnel authorizations.
Key actions the board approved during the meeting include:
- A resolution providing for issuance, sale and delivery of $38,664,948.70 of general obligation capital appreciation facilities maintenance bonds, Series 2025A (Resolution B‑25‑4123). The motion to approve was moved by Member Sadowski and seconded by Member Williams; the board voted to approve the resolution.
- A resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of full-term certificates of participation, series 2025B, in a principal amount not to exceed $9,795,000 to finance a portion of project costs for the school building located at 424 West First Street (Resolution B‑10‑25‑4127). The motion was moved by Member Loeffler Kemp and seconded by Member Sadowski; the board voted to approve the resolution.
- Acceptance of donations to Duluth Public Schools (Resolution B‑10‑25‑4124). The resolution lists donations to multiple schools and programs across the district; Member Banks moved the resolution and Loeffler Kemp seconded it. The donations packet included cash and in‑kind gifts for Denfeld, Lincoln Park, East and other schools and adult education programs.
- Acceptance of grant awards to Duluth Public Schools (Resolution B‑10‑25‑4125). Member Loeffler Kemp moved the resolution and it carried.
- Authorization of a bank account signer for the district (Resolution B‑10‑25‑4126), authorizing Nathan Chapman to be added as a signer. The motion was moved by Member Loeffler Kemp and seconded by Member Williams.
- Board support for an application to the Minnesota State High School League Foundation to offset student activity fees (Resolution E‑10‑25‑4128). The motion was moved by Member Mike Sell and seconded by Member Banks.
- Approval of the collective bargaining agreement with the Education Directors Association for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027 (Resolution HR‑10‑25‑4129). The motion was moved by Member Sadowski and seconded by Member Mike Sell.
- Approval of a collective bargaining agreement with the food service employees for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2028 (Resolution HR‑10‑25‑4130). The motion was moved by Loeffler Kemp and seconded by Member Banks.
- Approval of an individual contract for the Director of Advancing Equity (person not named in public excerpt). Member Banks moved the contract approval and Member Williams seconded; the motion carried.
All motions noted above were presented on the meeting agenda, moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote. The meeting transcript records the motions, movers and seconders and indicates the chair called for “ayes” on each item and declared the motion passed; the transcript does not record a roll-call vote tally for each individual voter on each motion.
The board placed the consent agenda and the resolutions on the record during the meeting; members and staff noted the district’s strong community support exemplified by the donations list and emphasized the bond and certificate actions will fund ongoing district capital needs including the First Street project.
