Shakopee school board approves curriculum, programs and operational purchases in Nov. 17 meeting
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Summary
The Shakopee Public School District board approved a package of agenda items Nov. 17, including new course offerings (including a Dakota language and culture course), a district-run school-age care program, an early-learning curriculum adoption, equipment purchases and routine policy/form approvals.
The Shakopee Public School District school board on Nov. 17 approved a series of motions that advance curriculum, student programs and operational plans for the 2025–26 school year.
Board members carried the consent agenda and accepted donations, then approved separate action items including student club additions, the K–12 calendars for 2026–28, and a set of course proposals. The board voted to approve three new courses proposed by district staff — Dakota language and culture, Unified Art, and Unified Robotics — after a brief discussion about instructor sourcing. Chair Smith and staff said the district will pursue community experts and qualified staff to teach the Dakota course.
The board also approved adoption of a new early-learning curriculum for Pearson Early Learning Center: The Creative Curriculum, aligned with the district’s TS Gold assessment system. Administrators described a five-year, one-time purchase model and phased staff training.
In operations and facilities, the board authorized a one-time operating capital purchase of a Toro Groundmaster (16-foot) to replace aging equipment and approved participation in the Minnesota State High School League Foundation (forms A and B) to preserve grant eligibility.
Administrators won approval to bring school-age care in-house beginning fall 2026. The community education plan calls for a self-sustaining, fee-based model operating at district sites with staffing that would include a program manager, supervisors, lead teachers and assistants, and a typical staff-to-student ratio of about 1:15.
Other approvals included a memorandum of understanding to share the district’s reunification and evacuation plans with neighboring schools using the I Love You Guys protocol and a resolution setting parameters for combined polling places if a local election were required. The board also authorized a range of policy updates, held a first reading on purchasing policy revisions, and voted to allow flexibility in allocating compensatory revenue between building and district levels, with staff indicating a likely 70% building allocation next year given funding uncertainty.
Most votes were carried by voice or roll call with board members indicating “Aye”; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript.