Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St Clair County Schools board approves 2025–26 school day, accepts personnel changes and green-lights preschool lease
Summary
At its August meeting the St Clair County Schools board set K–12 hours for 2025–26 at 8:05 a.m.–2:55 p.m., accepted four staff resignations, opened applications for a vacant board seat and approved a three-year lease to house Preschool Kids Connection at the CCD Building.
The St Clair County Schools board on Monday approved a set of routine administrative actions including new school-day hours for the 2025–26 school year and several personnel and facilities items.
In a voice vote the board set the district K–12 school day to begin at 8:05 a.m. and end at 2:55 p.m. for 2025–26, a change officials said reflects the removal of the high school mid-morning break without reducing instructional time. "No instructional time is taken away with this," a district official said during the discussion. The motion was seconded by board member Nick and carried.
The board accepted resignations from four employees — Savannah Whitty, Ernie Police, Nicole Gems and Danielle Torkola — as presented by staff, and approved related personnel steps including a phased transition plan for at least one replacement. The motion to accept the resignations carried.
Board members also approved a three-year lease with a local church to house the district’s Preschool Kids Connection at the CCD Building. Staff said the church will pay utilities; the lease includes a 90-day written-notice termination clause for either party. "They have been so generous to us, and they are paying the utilities," a staff presenter said while recommending approval. The motion, made by Nick, was seconded and carried.
The board reviewed and approved the fall 2025 list of extracurricular advisors and athletic coaches provided in supporting documents. The group also agreed on the process and timeline to fill a vacant school board seat: the application window will be open Aug. 19–Sept. 12, 2025, and interested residents should email a letter of interest to bstover@saintclairecyclones.org; a committee will screen candidates and present a recommendation at the September regular meeting.
On food services, the board received an informational update: student meals will be free for 2025–26 through the Minnesota Free Schools Meals Program, and the district is awaiting NDE guidance on minimum prices for adult and second-student meals before setting those rates.
Votes at a glance: - Set school day (2025–26): 8:05 a.m.–2:55 p.m. — motion seconded by Nick; outcome: approved. - Accept resignations (Savannah Whitty; Ernie Police; Nicole Gems; Danielle Torkola) — outcome: approved. - Approve 3-year lease for CCD Building (Preschool Kids Connection) — motion by Nick; outcome: approved. - Approve fall 2025 extracurricular advisors and athletic coaches — outcome: approved. - Vacancy appointment process (application Aug. 19–Sept. 12, 2025) — outcome: approved.
Next steps: The board will review candidate letters for the vacant seat at the September meeting and will receive additional information on adult and second-student food-service pricing when NDE releases 2025–26 guidance.
