South Washington County Schools board approves eight policies, maximum preliminary levy, election judges and one-year girls hockey coop

At its Sept. 18 meeting in Cottage Grove, the South Washington County Schools Board of Education approved a package of policy changes, set a preliminary levy cap, appointed election judges for the Nov. 4 election and approved a one-year girls hockey cooperative agreement.

Superintendent Julie Nielsen presented eight policy changes for final approval, describing them as one policy in the 700 transportation series and seven in the 900 community-education series. "If you recall, September 5 at our workshop meeting, we reviewed those policies," Nielsen said before asking for approval. Sharon Van Leer moved to approve the policies and Eric Tessmer seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.

Nielsen (presenting for Director of Business Services Chris Blackburn) asked the board to approve the preliminary levy at the maximum allowed so the district could reflect any later adjustments from the Minnesota Department of Education. Nielsen reminded the board that the district must adopt the preliminary levy by Sept. 30 and will hold a truth-in-taxation hearing and approve the final levy in December. The motion to approve the preliminary levy at the maximum was moved by Simi Petnik, seconded by Sharon Van Leer, and the board approved it by voice vote.

Nielsen also presented a resolution listing election judges and polling places for the Nov. 4 election; the board conducted a roll-call vote and all present members voted yes, approving the resolution.

Christine Schaefer, assistant superintendent, requested approval of a cooperative girls hockey agreement for the 2025—26 season between Woodbury High School and Saint Croix Prep. Schaefer said the agreement preserves Saint Croix Prep students— access to girls hockey while they seek a longer-term partner after a prior larger cooperative was dissolved. "This agreement would allow their students continued access to girls hockey while giving the school more time to find another long term solution or communicate to families the next steps," Schaefer said. The motion, moved by Melinda Doles and seconded by Simi Petnik, passed by voice vote. Board members clarified the coop will remain in effect until the board votes to dissolve it.

Votes at a glance:

- Amended agenda (added item 7.4): moved by Sharon Van Leer, seconded by Melinda Doles; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Consent items: moved by Simi Petnik, seconded by Eric Tessmer; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Approval of eight policies (7.1): moved by Sharon Van Leer, seconded by Eric Tessmer; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Preliminary levy for 2026 (7.2): moved by Simi Petnik, seconded by Sharon Van Leer; outcome: approved by voice vote; board was reminded final levy and truth-in-taxation hearing will occur in December.

- Election judges resolution for Nov. 4 (7.3): moved by Sharon Van Leer, seconded by Eric Tessmer; outcome: approved by roll-call vote (all present voted yes).

- Woodbury High School / Saint Croix Prep girls hockey cooperative for 2025—26 (7.4): moved by Melinda Doles, seconded by Simi Petnik; outcome: approved by voice vote.

What it means: Approving the preliminary levy at the maximum preserves district flexibility to accommodate final state calculations; approving the one-year hockey coop preserves student access to athletics while district leaders and Saint Croix Prep seek a longer-term solution. The election judges resolution confirms district staffing of polling locations in Cottage Grove and Newport for the Nov. 4 election.

Next steps: The district will return in December for final levy decisions and the truth-in-taxation hearing; staff said they will continue to monitor cooperative athletic arrangements and related communications to families.