ROCORI board approves multiple policy updates, adopts language-access plan and renews SRO agreement ahead of school year

The ROCORI Public School District Board approved a package of policy and handbook updates, adopted a district language-access plan and renewed its school resource officer agreement with the City of Cold Spring during a regular meeting that concluded with a closed session for the annual superintendent evaluation.

The actions move a set of model, technical and substantive policy updates forward in single readings where permitted by the board's policy-adoption rule. Board members also approved the activities handbook, the K–12 student handbook (which includes a new restriction on high school students using cell phones during the school day) and a memorandum of understanding to continue a school resource officer (SRO) in the district.

Board members said the updates reflect 2025 legislative changes and routine annual reviews. The board approved two policies required for annual review (Policies 506 and 722), two model/technical updates (Policy 425 and Policy 624) and a group of substantive policy updates that include mandated-reporting/child-neglect, drug-free workplace, school weapons, privacy of education records, student medication and telehealth, overdose medication, internet/cell-phone acceptable use, school meals, school calendar/day organization, student transportation and disposition of obsolete equipment.

District staff said the policy changes came from MSBA model language and legislative updates and that the policy committee recommended one-reading approval under Policy 208, which allows adoption in fewer than three readings for minimal or time-sensitive changes. The board voted to approve the annual-review and technical-update policies in single readings and to approve the substantive updates after committee review.

The board also adopted a language-access plan for the 2025–26 school year. District staff described a three-meeting review process that included administrators, the district cultural liaison, the English learner coordinator and the special-education supervisor. Staff said the district most frequently needs Spanish interpreters, also receives requests for Somali and (in at least one known household) Ukrainian translation, and that the plan clarifies procedures for providing interpretation and translation for important educational communications such as individualized education program (IEP) meetings.

Board members approved the activities handbook and the K–12 student handbook. The student handbook changes include clarified prom language and revised cell-phone procedures; the board discussed a new restriction that will prevent high school students from having phones “on” during the school day and said the district will provide accommodations for medical needs (for example, diabetic monitoring) and will work with families on special situations. One board member said they opposed one portion of the activities handbook described as a new “cutting policy” and anticipated community questions; the board nevertheless approved the activities handbook by a recorded margin reported at 4–0–1 (four yes, zero no, one absent).

The board approved the memorandum of understanding with the City of Cold Spring to continue a school resource officer on an annual basis. The board noted Officer Dean will return from leave and that Officer Anita covered the role in his absence.

In other district business, the superintendent reported summer construction remained on schedule: ceilings and flooring work was expected to be completed by the end of the week, though the district said the middle-school gym and pool would not be available immediately while systems (including boilers and pool systems) are brought back online and flushed of debris in the lines. The superintendent said school orientation for new teachers and staff in-service days are scheduled; fall sports have begun; enrollment is about 18 students below last year’s count but the district expects additional registrations in the coming weeks; and online-program enrollment appears lower so far but could increase before school starts.

The board received a brief update on negotiations. Staff said the parties are making progress on language items and expected further bargaining focused on financial items in upcoming sessions with teachers and paraprofessionals.

The meeting closed to the public for the superintendent’s annual performance evaluation under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subdivision 3(a).

Votes at a glance - Approve meeting agenda — Motion by Matt (Board member), second by Kayla (Board member); outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). - Approve consent agenda — Motion by Jenna (Board member), second by Matt (Board member); outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). - Approve annual-review policies (Policy 506; Policy 722) — Motion by Kayla (Board member), second by Robin (Board member); outcome: approved (single reading). - Approve model/technical updates (Policy 425; Policy 624) — Motion by Jennifer (Board member), second not specified; outcome: approved (single reading). - Approve substantive policy updates (mandated reporting/child neglect; drug-free workplace; school weapons; privacy of records; student medication and telehealth; overdose medication; internet/cell phone acceptable use; school meals; school calendar and day; transportation; student transportation safety; disposition of obsolete equipment) — Motion by Matt (Board member), second by Robin (Board member); outcome: approved (single reading). - Approve language-access plan for 2025–26 — Motion by Jennifer (Board member), second by Robin (Board member); outcome: approved. - Approve activities handbook — Motion by Jennifer (Board member), second by Robin (Board member); outcome: approved, 4 yes, 0 no, 1 absent (4–0–1). - Approve K–12 student handbook — Motion by Jennifer (Board member), second by Kayla (Board member); outcome: approved. - Approve memorandum of understanding with the City of Cold Spring for the school resource officer — Motion by Kayla (Board member), second by Matt (Board member); outcome: approved.

Meeting context and next steps Board members said many of the policy updates were procedural or mirrored MSBA model language tied to the 2025 legislative session and that the policy committee reviewed and recommended one-reading adoption where appropriate. Staff will finalize handbook language and post negotiation summaries; the board scheduled further bargaining sessions and a final pre–school-year board meeting on Aug. 25. The closed session was convened to conduct the superintendent’s annual evaluation under Minnesota law.

Sources: ROCORI Public School District meeting transcript and in-meeting staff presentations.