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South St. Paul board adopts 2025–30 strategic plan; approves series of routine resolutions
Summary
At its May 27 meeting the South Saint Paul Public Schools board voted unanimously to adopt a five‑year strategic plan and approved a bundle of routine resolutions and personnel actions. Board members highlighted community engagement in the planning process and noted lingering state budget uncertainty tied to compensatory aid.
May 27, 2025 — The South Saint Paul Public Schools School Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a five‑year strategic plan, 7‑0, and cleared a set of routine business items including membership in the Minnesota State High School League, acceptance of donations and agreements for shared services.
Superintendent Dr. Zambrino told the board the work on the plan had drawn extensive community input and stressed the effort was not an attempt to “rebrand our district.” She said the timing of the plan coincides with the district’s strategic review and a separate visual refresh: “We are not trying to rebrand our district. We love being Packers. We love our colors,” Dr. Zambrino said.
The plan frames the district around a short mission and vision and three pillars the steering committee labeled Packer Performance (academic outcomes), Packer Pride (community and belonging) and the Packer Promise (transparency and follow‑through). Principal Leah Borg summarized the plan’s core language: “engage, educate and empower” and said the vision is “nurturing an inclusive Packer community of lifelong learners.”
Parents, staff and students who served on the steering committee briefed the board on the engagement process. Janelle Rose described 24 focus groups and about 138 participants, and said meeting facilitators verified participants’ comments in real time so the steering committee worked from the original submitted language. Jane Cornell (teacher and parent) described iterative drafting with posters and multiple meetings to refine wording.
Board members said they supported the plan and emphasized next steps. Chair Heumann said the district will produce scorecards to measure progress and report back on timelines and metrics. Several directors also flagged the district’s budget uncertainty: administration told the board an unresolved change to state compensatory aid could cut about $1.5 million from next year’s budget if the Legislature does not act, a shortfall the district said it is monitoring closely.
Votes at a glance
- Motion: Approve 2025–2030 strategic plan. Outcome: approved 7‑0. (Motion made and seconded; roll call recorded 7 ayes.) - Motion: Approve Minnesota State High School League membership resolution. Outcome: approved 7‑0. - Motion: Accept monetary and in‑kind gifts (approx. $12,000 and 17 chairs) for district programs. Outcome: approved 7‑0. - Motion: Approve ISD 917 long‑term facility maintenance (LTFM) budget inclusion (district share ≈ $17,594). Outcome: approved 7‑0. - Motion: Approve continuing teacher contracts for 2025–26. Outcome: approved 7‑0. - Motion: Nonrenewal of long‑term limited contract substitute teaching agreements (statutorily required termination). Outcome: approved 7‑0. - Motion: Nonrenewal of listed probationary noninstructional staff. Outcome: approved 7‑0. - Motion: Place an office and professional employee position on layoff due to elimination; and recall Kristen Rodenberg to a restructured position. Outcome: both approved 7‑0. - Motion: Approve South Suburban Adult Basic Education consortium agreement (07/01/2025–06/30/2026). Outcome: approved 7‑0. - Motion: Approve district policies on final reading (policy numbers listed on agenda). Outcome: approved 7‑0.
Discussion and next steps
Board and administration noted the plan’s approval launches an implementation phase. The superintendent said the next steps include preparing publicly viewable scorecards and converting strategic priorities into specific action plans and budgets. Finance staff briefed the board on the fiscal calendar and said the district is preparing its budget for final approval in June; administration said they have already identified $310,000 in offsets against enrollment alignment but remain watchful about the larger compensatory‑aid matter.
The board’s unanimous votes on routine items were presented as part of the evening’s consent and business calendar; roll calls for each motion were called and recorded during the meeting. The district said it will continue stakeholder engagement as actions to implement the plan are brought to board committees and the full board.
