Board approves Harambee calendar change, adopts APAC response and OKs direct-care contract

The Roseville Area School Board took several formal actions at its April 22 meeting. Key outcomes: transition of Harambee Elementary from a year-round calendar to a nine-month calendar; adoption of a written response to an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (APAC) letter of non-concurrence; approval of a one-year direct primary care contract with Kavera Health; and approval of two routine transportation-related policies.

Harambee Elementary calendar change The board approved a staff recommendation to transition Harambee Elementary School from a year-round flexible calendar to a traditional nine-month calendar, effective with the 2026-27 school year. The motion was moved and seconded and the chair called for the voice vote; the board recorded that the motion carried. The administrative presentation cited 10 years of declining enrollment at Harambee (about 150 students lost) and chronic absenteeism spikes on year-round break days as reasons for the change. The district will continue Harambee as an interdistrict magnet school, maintain existing attendance boundaries and begin community visioning work this spring and summer.

APAC letter of non-concurrence: board response adopted The board adopted a written response to a Feb. 18 APAC resolution of non-concurrence under Minnesota Statutes 124D.78. Clerk Chute read the response into the record; the board—s resolution acknowledged gaps the APAC identified and committed to actions including closer monitoring of American Indian Education Aid (AIEA) strategies, improving notification to ensure Native program staff are invited to IEP, discipline review board and attendance meetings, and continuing to use AIEA grant funds consistent with APAC recommendations. The board noted district budget pressures, saying a $4 million shortfall for 2025-26 prevents hiring additional staff at this time; the response says the district will monitor finances and revisit staffing recommendations in the future.

Kavera Health direct primary care contract approved The board approved a one-year direct primary care subscription contract with Kavera Health, a vendor that offers mobile and virtual primary-care services to employee groups. The subscription cost described at the meeting was about $265,000 for one year (per testimony), and district presenters said the transaction produces a net projected savings after an insurer renewal adjustment (district presenters cited a projected net savings of approximately $308,000 versus a higher renewal scenario). Participation in the Kavera benefit is voluntary for employees, and the contract is for one year as a pilot; staff said they will promote usage and evaluate renewal options and any future procurement.

Routine policy and consent actions The board approved the second readings of policies on school bus transportation (policy 7-24) and student transportation safety (policy 7-32) with no substantive changes after the first reading. The board also approved the consent agenda, which included the recorded retirement of Sally Schroeder, an elementary teacher at Falcon Heights; that motion carried by voice vote.

What the record shows The meeting used voice votes for the items above ("all those in favor signify by saying aye"), and the transcript records that motions carried; the transcript does not record numeric tallies or recorded roll-call vote counts for these actions. Where the transcript did not supply mover/second names or vote tallies, the actions are summarized below with outcomes noted as recorded in the meeting minutes.