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Faribault school board approves TIF plan, new staff positions and policy reviews amid one dissent
Summary
At its Feb. 17 meeting, the Independent School District #656 board adopted a tax-increment financing plan for a development district, approved two new 1.0 FTE positions and several policy reviews; most motions passed with at least five votes while board member Linda Moore repeatedly voted against several items.
The Independent School District #656 (Faribault Public Schools) board on Feb. 17 approved a tax-increment financing plan for Tax Increment Financing District No. 20 and took a series of personnel and policy actions during its regular meeting.
Chair John Bellingham appointed Chad Wolff to serve as clerk and the board then approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda unanimously. The consent agenda included minutes from Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 2026, employment actions, additional assignments and authorization of payments and transfers.
The board considered and adopted a resolution "Approving A Tax Increment Financing Plan For Tax Increment Financing District No. 20 In Development District No. 1 in the City of Faribault." Jerry Robicheau moved the resolution and John Bellingham seconded; the resolution passed by roll-call vote, 5-1, with board member Linda Moore voting against the measure.
The Policy Committee report was presented by board member Linda Moore. The board conducted first readings of several policies (Policy 306: Administrator Code of Ethics; Policy 606: Textbooks and Instructional Materials; Policy 712: Video Surveillance Other Than on Buses; Policy 722: Public Data and Data Subject Requests). Later in the meeting, a motion by Chad Wolff, seconded by Lynda Boudreau, approved reviews of Policy 301 (School District Administration) through Policy 305 (Policy Implementation); that motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
On other matters, the board approved Gifts/Donations under Resolution 26-18 by roll-call vote, 6-0. The board approved the American Indian Education Aid presentation after discussion; that approval passed 5-1, with Moore recording the lone dissent. The board also approved a New Position Request for a College & Career Navigator at 1.0 FTE (passed 5-1) and a New Position Request for a Behavior Facilitator at 1.0 FTE (passed 5-1). A proposal to increase working days for the Assistant Director of Special Education passed unanimously.
The board voted to approve five overloads for FOA; that motion passed 4-2. The minutes record Lynda Boudreau and Candace Knudson as voting against that overload motion along with Linda Moore voting against several personnel and program items noted above (the minutes specify the voting breakdown for each motion where recorded).
The meeting closed with announcements of upcoming committee and meeting dates and adjourned at 7:26 p.m. The minutes were later signed by Clerk Casie Steeves and approved March 16, 2026.
Why it matters: The approved TIF plan authorizes the district’s local participation in a tax-increment financing district tied to development in the City of Faribault; the new 1.0 FTE positions and overload approvals affect staffing and student support services across the district. Board votes were generally decisive, though one member registered repeated dissent on multiple items, signaling oversight or policy concerns among the board.
