Board approves updates to nutrition, assignment, conflict‑of‑interest and leave policies

The Minnetonka School Board approved several policy revisions during its Dec. 11 meeting, noting the changes clarify current practice and reflect statutory and collective bargaining developments.

Angie Flowers, general counsel and executive director of human resources, reviewed the package. Revisions to Policy 7‑19 (Nutrition Services) update wording to refer to "meals" rather than "lunch" and clarify that meal eligibility continues even when student accounts have a balance. The board approved the revision by voice vote.

Policy 535 (Assignment to Schools) received language clean‑up, clarified the superintendent's and administrators' authorities, and added Tonka Online as a school assignment option; the board approved the change.

The conflict of interest policy (2‑10) was revised to incorporate nepotism provisions (sunsetting policy 4‑33) and added more comprehensive guidance on financial conflicts, gifts and perceived conflicts; the board approved the adoption and corresponding sunset of the prior nepotism policy.

Policy 4‑29 (Leave of Absence) was updated to remove the phrase "without pay" from the title and clarify leave notice and concurrent leave provisions in line with a new paid family leave statute effective Jan. 1, 2026. Board members discussed that proposals on intermittent leave would instead be addressed through MOUs with bargaining units rather than board policy; the board approved the policy revisions.

Board action: motions to approve each policy carried by voice vote. Administration said it had communicated changes at study sessions and had consulted bargaining units on items requiring separate agreements.

Next steps: staff will update board policy documents and communicate changes to employees and bargaining partners; intermittent‑leave details will be handled through individual agreements and MOUs.