Board debates changing official legal-notice paper; vote fails and district briefly lacks designated newspaper
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Summary
Board members split over replacing the Forest Lake Times with the Pioneer Press as the district's official legal-notice newspaper. Chair argued for Pioneer Press circulation and flexibility; other members called the change unexpected and urged continued use of the local paper. After motions and an amendment, the final votes left the district without a designated official newspaper at adjournment.
A contentious exchange over item 9.12 — the district's designation of an official school newspaper for legal notices — occupied a significant portion of the Jan. 8 meeting.
Chair proposed switching the district's official legal-notice newspaper to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, saying it offered broader circulation and flexibility for timing and format of notices. "Therefore, we will be better informing our public about the official notifications that we need to send out," the chair said in support of the change. Several board members questioned that rationale and called the change unexpected and insufficiently communicated. Member Tyson said the change "seems heavy handed" and warned it could be perceived poorly by district families who rely on the local Forest Lake Times for news and community coverage.
Members debated details including circulation requirements, comparative quotes from each paper (administration shared per-inch pricing and line counts), and the statutory requirement to designate an official newspaper. An amendment to designate the Forest Lake Times as the official newspaper was introduced and passed by voice vote, but subsequent votes and procedural moves left the board with no finalized designated newspaper at the close of the meeting. Administration and the business department were asked to research statutory notice requirements and options for posting notices if the board has no designated paper.
Board members requested additional cost comparisons and clarification about statutory obligations before a final designation is made. Administration agreed to research the statute and advise the board on how to proceed for required public notices while the matter remains unresolved.