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Votes at a glance: levy certified, Lake Elmo sale approved, custodial contract and several policies passed
Summary
The Stillwater Area Public Schools board certified a $66,565,780.02 levy for payable 2026, unanimously approved the purchase agreement for Lake Elmo Elementary with Valley Community Center, approved Policy 605, and ratified a custodial master contract; negotiations with SCEA continue and the board moved into closed session on labor strategy.
At its meeting the Stillwater Area Public Schools board took multiple procedural and consent actions alongside larger policy votes:
- Property tax levy certified: Finance staff presented the final levy for payable 2026 at $66,565,780.02 (an increase of 0.64% on the presented figures). The board moved to certify the levy and approved certification on the record.
- Lake Elmo Elementary purchase agreement approved: Following a presentation from Sherry Mogren of the Valley Community Center, the board approved a resolution authorizing the district to execute a purchase agreement for the Lake Elmo Elementary site; a roll‑call vote recorded unanimous "Yes" answers on the record and the resolution passed unanimously.
- Policy 605 approved: The board took a second reading and approved new Policy 605 (Alternative Educational Services), described on the record as a brief policy containing legal requirements to recognize alternative educational services for some students.
- Custodial master contract ratified: District negotiator Chris summarized highlights of a tentative agreement for custodial staff including step movement, consolidation of pay lanes, salary increases (2.25% in year 1 and 2.25% in year 2) with market adjustments, and a medical insurance cost‑sharing framework (district covers first 6.5% of renewal increase; employees the next 6.5%; any increase above 13% split equally). The board moved and approved the custodial contract.
- Labor negotiations and closed session: Negotiators reported ten meetings with SCEA and said tentative agreements exist on multiple proposals; because sticking points remain both sides agreed to request mediation with the Bureau of Mediation Services (mediation likely near January/February). The board voted to enter a closed session under Minnesota statute to discuss labor negotiation strategy.
Quotes and next steps: "We are going to jointly file to the Bureau of Mediation Services to enter into mediation," the negotiator said. The district scheduled continuing negotiations and has meetings planned after the holidays, with the next session set for Jan. 12.
The actions taken at the meeting include both long‑term capital work tied to the referendum and near‑term labor and policy matters; the district will provide further public updates as negotiations and due diligence progress.
