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Faribault board passes multiple routine items, adopts FY2026 budget and curriculum; close votes on several policies
Summary
The board voted May 18 to adopt the FY2026 final budget, award contracts for VoIP and print services, approve Tahir pending MDE approval as food service manager, adopt the K–5 ELA curriculum (Benchmark Advance) and approve several policy revisions; a proposed amendment to policy 5.15 failed 2–4.
The Faribault Public Schools board handled a long set of action items on May 18, approving vendor recommendations, curriculum adoption and the district's FY2026 final budget while voting down a controversial amendment to a privacy policy.
Key outcomes (roll-call or recorded where applicable):
- FY2026 final budget adopted (vote 5–1). Finance staff presented revised revenue and expenditure projections, citing a projected student count of 3,027 and a projected unassigned fund balance of about $8.68 million (12.5%).
- K–5 English language arts curriculum adopted (Benchmark Advance) (vote 5–1). After piloting two resources and surveying teachers, staff recommended Benchmark Advance; one director said she had not reviewed the full curriculum in advance.
- Policy actions: multiple policy revisions passed including policy 4-27, 6-15 and MSBA policy 6-25 (AI) (voice or roll-call as recorded). Policy 5.30 (immunization requirements) passed unanimously (6–0). Policy 6.18 (assessment of student achievement) passed (5–1). A late amendment to policy 5.15 relating to parental notification about gender-related requests failed 2–4; the underlying 5.15 revisions then passed 5–1.
- Vendor and service approvals: Approved moving managed print services to Marco (6–0); approved VoIP recommendation to Bevcom (6–0) including a survivability appliance option to maintain internal dialing during outages; approved recommendation to award food service management to Tahir Inc., pending Minnesota Department of Education approval (5–1); approved a phone-system agreement with Bevcom and a multifunction-printer contract award.
- Other approvals: Extended band/choir/orchestra trip to New York City (6–0); resolution accepting gifts/donations (resolution 26-26) passed (5–1); probationary teachers' nonrenewal resolution for 26–27 passed unanimously (6–0); FY27 service agreements with a local charter for technology, nursing and custodial services passed (6–0).
Why it matters: The budget and vendor decisions set the district's fiscal course and operational vendors for the coming year. The K–5 curriculum adoption affects classroom instruction across elementary grades. The failed amendment—and the surrounding debate—illustrated divisions on parental notification and student privacy and prompted staff/board follow-up for legal clarification.
What happens next: Staff will proceed on vendor transitions (subject to MDE approvals for food service), implement Benchmark Advance where appropriate, and return with recommended policy clarifications or legal analysis where requested.
