School board approves election-judge appointments, policy updates and $38.43 million bond refunding; all recorded votes 7-0

Spring Lake Park Public Schools Board of Education adopted several resolutions and motions during its meeting, including appointment of election judges for the Nov. 4 general and special election, approval of policy modifications, acknowledgement of gifts, designation of American Education Week, and a resolution to issue refunding general obligation school building bonds series 2025A in the original principal amount of $38,430,000 to refinance outstanding debt.

Election judges: The board adopted the resolution appointing election judges for the school district election scheduled for Nov. 4, 2025. The motion to adopt the resolution was moved by Valella and seconded by McCollum. The board clerk called the roll; votes were recorded as Yes from Forsberg, Schmidt, Skelly, Valella, Hennen, McClellan and Easter. The resolution passed 7-0.

Policy modifications: The board approved proposed modifications to several policies under Board Policy 208, which allows minor or legally required changes to be adopted at one meeting at the board's discretion. The motion to adopt the modified policies was moved by Hennen and seconded by Forsberg, and the motion passed on a recorded vote of 7-0.

Refunding bonds (series 2025A): The board considered and adopted a resolution ratifying the issuance and sale of general obligation school building refunding bonds, series 2025A, in the original aggregate principal amount of $38,430,000. The motion to approve the resolution was moved by Valella and seconded by Schmidt. District finance staff (Amy) and bond counsel and underwriting representatives presented the results of the competitive sale: 13 bidders participated and UBS Financial Services was the winning bidder at a true interest cost of 2.71 percent. The underwriter reported approximately $1,800,000 in projected savings for taxpayers from the refunding, and staff said those savings will reduce the district's future debt-service levies (including the pay 2026 levy cycle). The district's rating was affirmed at Aa2 by Moody's during the process. The roll call returned seven Yes votes; the resolution passed 7-0.

Acknowledgment of gifts and other routine items: The board adopted a resolution accepting gifts to the district under Board Policy 706 and Minnesota Statute 465.03, moved by Scully and seconded by Hennen; the motion passed 7-0. The board also approved consent-agenda items earlier in the meeting (including minutes, personnel items and bills paid for August 2025 in the amount of $7,856,583) and adopted a resolution designating American Education Week (Nov. 17-20, 2025) moved by Schmidt and seconded by McClellan; that resolution also passed 7-0.

Roll-call process and votes: For each of these formal actions the clerk performed roll calls and the board recorded unanimous 7-0 votes in favor. Where motions and seconds were recorded on the transcript, they are listed above; where the transcript recorded only a voice vote with no roll-call or where the clerk recorded a roll, the action is reflected as passed per the clerk's recorded roll call.

Next steps and financial context: District staff said they will work with the Minnesota Department of Education and other staff to adjust the levy in the upcoming levy cycle to reflect savings from the refunding. The underwriter offered to provide a per-household savings calculation on request; staff indicated they will prepare that figure and communicate it to the board and public. The board took no further budget votes at the meeting.