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Board approves international field trips, Lincoln Center Playworks SHIP grant and fiscal‑year 2026 budget revision

South St. Paul Public School District Board of Education · February 24, 2026

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Summary

The South St. Paul school board unanimously approved final field trips to France and Costa Rica, accepted a SHIP grant to bring Playworks to Lincoln Center, and adopted a FY26 budget revision projecting a roughly $169,000 surplus after revenue and expenditure adjustments.

At its Feb. 23 meeting the South St. Paul school board approved a slate of business items brought by administration: final field trips for two high‑school international programs, acceptance of a Lincoln Center SHIP grant to implement Playworks, and a fiscal‑year 2026 budget revision presented by the finance director.

Field trips: The board voted unanimously, 7‑0, to approve final travel for the high‑school French class (March 25–April 3, France and Monaco) and for the Spanish class (March 27–April 5, Costa Rica). Educational Services Director Amy Winter and trip chaperones described coordination with the third‑party tour operator Education First Tours and their preparation meetings with chaperones and families; board members asked about passports and logistics and were told chaperones and the tour operator lead pre‑trip briefings.

Lincoln Center SHIP grant and Playworks: Principal Bossardoff asked the board to accept a SHIP grant to partner with Playworks to train recess supervisors and establish student leadership at Lincoln Center. A Playworks representative and a student junior coach described program activities (structured, inclusive games; junior coach leadership training) and said the model aims to reduce behavior referrals originating at recess. The board accepted the grant by voice vote (7‑0).

Budget revision: Finance Director Atath presented the FY26 budget revision, noting an unmodified clean audit opinion for FY25. He said revenue adjustments increased by about $1,000,000 while expenditures rose approximately $897,000; after the revisions the district projects a roughly $169,000 surplus and an unassigned fund balance target comfortably above policy minimums. He flagged enrollment declines and inflation pressures as headwinds the district will continue to monitor. The board adopted the revision 7‑0.

Votes at a glance: approve French trip (7‑0); approve Costa Rica trip (7‑0); accept Lincoln Center SHIP grant/Playworks (7‑0); approve FY26 budget revision (7‑0); accept NAPAC concurrence (7‑0).

The board did not debate nor amend any of the motions in detail; administrators who presented each item committed to continue outreach and operational planning before implementation.