Board approves audit, school calendar, NextPath data-sharing and updates policy on students residing on Indian lands

At its Jan. 12 meeting the Cloquet Public School District board approved multiple routine consent and action items, including the district’s finalized single audit for 2025, the 2026–27 school calendar and a data-sharing agreement with NextPath to support a new district data-warehouse system.

Administrators said the single audit was completed after delays related to a government shutdown and that the firm reported no new findings. The school calendar was approved as presented; administrators noted it closely mirrors the current year but starts after Labor Day and shifts the usual March meeting to the third Monday to avoid spring break when needed.

The board also approved annual updates to Policy 107 concerning students residing on Indian lands and voted to waive the second and third readings. Administration said the changes were limited to fiscal-year date updates and that more substantive edits would follow only if the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee or tribal consultation flagged a need.

Dr. Michael Carey described the district’s tribal consultation practice: the district presents financial and program reports to the tribal council each spring (to align with Impact Aid application deadlines), seeks feedback and includes a board representative at those meetings. "We provide a report that shows a number of different financial strands and how those resources are being utilized, as well as student outcome and achievement results," he said.

All items on the consent agenda were approved by roll-call votes. Board members were told they may remove items from the consent agenda for fuller discussion at future meetings.