Duluth Public Schools board elects officers, approves organizational resolutions and discusses legislative priorities

Duluth Public Schools ISD 709 convened its organizational meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, where board members elected officers, adopted several routine administrative resolutions by voice vote and discussed a draft legislative agenda focused on school funding, special education reimbursement, technology and workforce development.

The meeting opened with roll call and the board moved quickly through officer elections. By acclamation, Member Kelly Eater was selected chair for the 2025–26 school year; Member Loeffler Kemp was elected vice chair; Member Mika Sell was elected clerk; and Member Sadowski was elected treasurer. The board also approved appointments for deputy clerk and board secretaries by motion and voice vote.

The meeting’s nut graf: the organizational session set governance and administrative authorities the board will use during the year and gave members a chance to refine a draft legislative platform the district plans to present to state legislators in upcoming meetings.

Key actions and routine resolutions

The board approved a slate of administrative resolutions by voice vote with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the minutes. Those actions included:

- Setting regular board meetings for the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the District Service Center, with a one‑day postponement rule if weather or unforeseen circumstances cancel a meeting. (Resolution B‑1‑25‑4073; adopted by voice vote.)

- Designating a list of depositories for district funds — Harbor Pointe Credit Union, North Shore Bank of Commerce, BMO Harris Bank, U.S. Bank, KeyBank, Wells Fargo, Park State Bank and Western Bank — and authorizing the treasurer and finance officials to arrange collateral as required by law. The resolution lists $250,000 as the maximum pledged amount for several named institutions; board discussion included a question from Member Banks about KeyBank’s listed status, and the executive director of business services said the finance manager (Sheila Stevens) would confirm details. (Resolution B‑1‑25‑4074; adopted by voice vote.)

- Delegating authority to the executive director of business services and finance to designate district employees to initiate electronic fund transfers as required by statute (transcript reference MS 04/1938). (Resolution B‑1‑25‑4075; adopted by voice vote.)

- Approving continued participation of student school board representatives from Denfeld High School, Duluth East High School and the Area Learning Center for the 2025 term (01/06/2025–12/31/2025). (Resolution B‑1‑25‑4076; adopted by voice vote.)

- Designating the district’s legal counsel firms (including Freiburger Law Firm; Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A.; Dreyer & Peterson, P.A.; and Squires, Walzberger & Mace, P.A.) and listing authorized contact persons from the district administration. (Adopted by voice vote.)

- Adopting a civility resolution that recognizes the “11 tools of civility” promoted by the Speak Your Peace civility project and directs the board to promote their use in school board proceedings. (Resolution B‑1‑25‑4078; adopted by voice vote.)

- Naming the Duluth News Tribune as the district’s official newspaper. (Resolution B‑1‑25‑4079; adopted by voice vote.)

- Authorizing the superintendent and the executive director of business services and finance to sign contracts and grants on behalf of the district up to $100,000 within budgetary and policy limits; the board required that the superintendent’s designee review each contract before execution and that a list of such contracts be provided as an informational item at the next regular meeting. The motion cites Minnesota Statute 123B.52, subd. 2. (Resolution B‑1‑25‑4080; adopted by voice vote.)

- Approving employment of a school board member by the district for calendar year 2025, subject to the limit in Minnesota Statute 123B.195 that board member employment not exceed $20,000 in a fiscal year; one member (identified in the meeting) abstained from that vote as required by statute. (Resolution HR‑1‑25‑4081; adopted with one abstention.)

Discussion: legislative priorities, equity and the Duluth Promise

After the resolutions, the board reviewed a draft legislative platform that the superintendent said was built from last year’s platform, a member survey and input from the Minnesota School Boards Association and other organizations. The draft asks the state for increased general state aid (the superintendent described a requested increase beyond the historical 2.5% state adjustments to close a gap with rising costs), permanent funding for programs sometimes treated as “unfunded mandates” (for example universal school meals), higher reimbursement for special education costs (noting current reimbursement is about 40%), dedicated technology funding and expanded flexibility or funding for long‑term facilities maintenance (LTFM) projects including roof work.

Board members asked for additions and clarifications. Member Banks urged an explicit legislative priority and funding targeted to hiring teachers of color (she raised the district’s need for recruitment and “grow your own” programs). Several board members discussed the draft’s cover photo and requested more representative imagery in the trifold the district plans to hand to legislators. The superintendent said communications staff (Adele) would update the visual materials and that the Duluth Promise partnership (district, University of Minnesota Duluth, College of St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College, the chamber and local partners such as Apex and the city) is seeking about $500,000 to fund a two‑year innovation hub coordinator and start‑up work.

Board members noted upcoming opportunities to refine the platform: an AMSD legislative preview and the board’s legislative work session the following day where representatives (including state Rep. Pete Johnson and other local legislators) will meet with the district and provide feedback. The superintendent and board emphasized the draft is a starting point and that staff and board will finalize language before the formal board vote at the next regular meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Officer elections (chair, vice chair, clerk, treasurer): elected by acclamation (voice votes) — no roll‑call tallies recorded. - Resolutions B‑1‑25‑4073, B‑1‑25‑4074, B‑1‑25‑4075, B‑1‑25‑4076, B‑1‑25‑4078, B‑1‑25‑4079, B‑1‑25‑4080: adopted by voice vote, motion carried. - Resolution HR‑1‑25‑4081 (employment of a board member): adopted with one abstention noted in the meeting; motion carries.

What the board directed next

The board asked communications staff to prepare an updated trifold for legislators incorporating more representative photography and additional detail. Staff were directed to finalize the legislative platform with any suggested additions (including possible language on “grow your own” teacher development programs) before the district’s meetings with legislators and before the board’s next work session.

The meeting adjourned after the planned agenda items; the board scheduled follow‑up conversation with legislators at a work session the next day.