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Votes at a glance: Forest Lake Area Schools board, May 1, 2025
Summary
The board approved multiple contracts, a $10.75 million facilities maintenance bond sale, budget and calendar items and other routine business. Roll-call tallies are recorded where the transcript gave them.
The Forest Lake Area Schools board took a number of formal actions at its May 1 meeting. Key approvals, with the outcomes reported on the meeting record, are listed below. Where the transcript records a roll call, the vote is shown; otherwise the outcome is summarized.
- Bond issuance: Approved resolution authorizing $10,750,000 general obligation facilities maintenance bonds, series 2025A (sale results: low bid 3.26%). Roll call: Revaline Aye; Tyson absent; Antonson Aye; Castle Aye; Haglund Aye; Corcoran Aye; Christensen Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Contract approvals (labor): Bus drivers and bus aides collective-bargaining agreement approved (added $100 district contribution to family medical, Juneteenth added as holiday, stepped wage increases). Roll call: Castle Aye; Tyson absent; Haglund Aye; Revaline Aye; Corcoran Aye; Anne Towson Aye; Christensen Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Contract approvals (labor): Custodial collective-bargaining agreement approved (similar contribution increase and wages). Roll call: Corcoran Aye; Christensen Aye; Revaline Aye; Tyson absent; Anne Towson Aye; Castle Aye; Haglund Aye. Outcome: approved.
- School resource officer (SRO) agreement: Approved agreement continuing Forest Lake Police Department SROs at the high school, middle school and community school; contract updated to reference required SRO training and reflects officer wage changes passed by the city. Roll call: Castle Aye; Christensen Aye; Corcoran Aye; Haglund Aye; Revaline Aye; Antonson Aye; Tyson absent. Outcome: approved.
- Bus lease: Approved leases to replace and renew buses (14 new 77-passenger buses leased, 10 purchased, two special-education buses ordered for later delivery). Roll call: Christensen Aye; Anne Towson Aye; Castle Aye; Revaline Aye; Haglund Aye; Corcoran Aye; Tyson absent. Outcome: approved.
- Medical premiums: Board set employee medical premium rates for 2025-26, increasing single and family premiums (single: $1,075 '1 month to $1,178/month; family: $2,785/month to $3,050/month) to follow an insurer/TPA recommendation and reduce the district's self-insurance deficit. Roll call: Castle Aye; Anne Towson Aye; Haglund Aye; Revaline Aye; Christensen Aye; Corcoran Aye; Tyson absent. Outcome: approved.
- General fund budget adjustment: Approved a spring budget adjustment recognizing additional categorical revenue (special education hold-harmless, literacy aid and other items) and matching expenditures. Roll call: Castle Aye; Corcoran Aye; Anne Towson Aye; Tyson absent; Haglund Aye; Christensen Aye; Revaline Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Academic calendar 2026-27: Approved a calendar that starts before Labor Day (with an adjusted long weekend around Labor Day and a June 3 end date) after community survey and board discussion. Voice/roll call recorded: Haglund Aye; Anne Towson Aye; Revaline Aye; Castle Aye; Christensen Aye; Corcoran Aye; Tyson absent. Outcome: approved.
- School board meeting calendar 2024-26: Approved continuation of Thursday night board meetings as presented. Outcome: approved.
- Student-publications policy (policy 5.43): Approved an updated policy to align with Minnesota statute 121A.80 and new postpublication requirements. Outcome: approved.
- Learning policy (policy 6.20): Approved updates governing credit transfers, concurrent enrollment and postsecondary credit weighting. Outcome: approved.
- Donations and retirements: Board accepted donations totaling $20,852.18 and acknowledged staff retirements (Wendy Amond, Diane Danielson, John Ryan). Roll-call for donations included an abstention by Member Castle; otherwise approved. Outcome: approved.
Administrative procedural votes, first readings and recommitments
- Harassment and violence policy (4.25): The board voted to commit the policy back to committee for further review. Outcome: motion to commit passed.
- Policies in the 100 series (1.03 exceptions noted): First readings given; no final action on the full series at this meeting.
Why this matters: the bond authorization will fund deferred-maintenance projects and earned a competitive interest-rate result. Labor agreements and premium-setting affect district payroll and benefits budgets going into the next fiscal year. The boundary and calendar discussions (separate agenda items) will affect families planning for 2026-27.
Source: Forest Lake Area Schools meeting transcript, May 1, 2025. For details on any vote, see the district's official minutes and posted roll-call records.
