Hopkins School Board approves census figure, sets candidate filing dates and calls Nov. 4 election

The Hopkins Public School Board on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, unanimously approved the meeting agenda and consent calendar, certified a new population estimate to be used in the 2025 payable 2026 revenue calculations and adopted filing and election dates for the district’s fall school board election.

The board approved a resolution certifying a population estimate of 69,344 — up from the 2020 Census figure of 68,594 — as determined by the State Demographer. The resolution directs the district to submit that figure for use in 2025 payable 2026 revenue calculations.

Board members were told staff calculations show the population increase would add $4,933.95 to the district’s Community Education Fund, including $2,478.63 directed for youth services, adults with disabilities and after-school programming. Board members attributed those figures to staff member Sarah Chovan during discussion.

Also on routine business, the board approved a resolution establishing the filing period for school board candidacies to begin July 29, 2025, and close at 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2025. Board members discussed an inconsistency in draft materials that had listed Aug. 13; the board adopted Aug. 12 after confirming guidance from Peter Martin, an attorney at Kennedy & Graven Chartered, and the secretary of state’s website.

Finally, the board approved a resolution calling a school district general election to elect three school board members for four-year terms to be held Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

All formal motions recorded on the June 24 agenda were seconded and passed by roll call. The roll-call votes recorded Chair Andreesen, Treasurer Hartland, Director Roper, Vice Chair Ross (who provided a visual signal while participating virtually), Clerk Thompson, Director Westmoreland and Director Zhou as voting “aye” on the identified items.

The agenda and consent calendar approvals were procedural votes that closed without further debate. The census certification drew brief discussion about revenue impacts and how the district’s calculator was used to derive the Community Education Fund amounts. Questions about the filing deadline focused on correcting the date in printed materials; board staff indicated they would update the document and the clerk noted the corrected filing close of Aug. 12.

With those actions complete, the board moved on to a public summary of the superintendent’s year-end review and other non-action items before adjourning.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve agenda. Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Motion: Approve consent calendar (including prior meeting minutes). Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Motion: Certify population estimate of 69,344 for use in 2025 payable 2026 revenue calculations. Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). Notes: Staff reported an estimated $4,933.95 increase to the Community Education Fund, including $2,478.63 designated for youth services/adult disabilities/after-school programs (attributed to Sarah Chovan). - Motion: Adopt filing dates for affidavits of candidacy to begin July 29, 2025, and close at 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2025. Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). Notes: Draft materials incorrectly showed Aug. 13; the board corrected to Aug. 12 based on attorney and Secretary of State guidance. - Motion: Adopt resolution calling a general election to elect three school board members on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).

Clerk Thompson completed roll calls for each vote and confirmed the unanimous outcomes.

The board’s actions set the administrative dates required for candidate filings and certified the demographer’s population figure that will be applied in revenue calculations for fiscal planning.