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Stillwater Area Public Schools board approves consent items, adopts LTFM budget step and moves to closed session on labor talks
Summary
At its June 2 study session, the Independent School District 834 (Stillwater Area Public Schools) board unanimously approved a consent agenda that included payment of invoices, a School Resource Officer contract for Stillwater Middle School and two grants; it also approved a Northeast Metro 916 LTFM budget allocation of $60,434 and teaching-assistant staffing flexibility, heard a Q-Comp briefing and set a June 23 date to request approval of the preliminary 2026—627 budget before convening a closed session on labor negotiations.
The Independent School District 834 (Stillwater Area Public Schools) board met in a study session on June 2 and unanimously approved several routine and policy items before moving into a closed session to discuss labor negotiation strategy.
Board Clerk Sarah Grcevich called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. After roll call showed six members present and one absent, Board member Alison Sherman moved to approve the agenda; Katie Hockert seconded and the motion carried 6-0. The board then approved the consent agenda on a motion by Chris Lauer, seconded by Andrew Thelander, by the same 6-0 vote. The consent package included payment of invoices for May 16—6-29, 2026; a School Resource Officer (SRO) contract for Stillwater Middle School; and acceptance of the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Healthcare Pathway Program and Stakeholder Honoraria grants.
The board approved a resolution establishing dates for filing affidavits of candidacy for upcoming school board elections on a motion by Sherman, seconded by Thelander; the vote was 6-0.
Staff reported on Long-Term Facility Maintenance (LTFM) funding requirements, noting that the district's Ten-Year Plan must be adopted and submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education to qualify projects for LTFM funding and to support a 2027 payable property tax levy.
The board approved a resolution for Northeast Metro 916's Long-Term Facility Maintenance budget on a motion by Sherman, seconded by Hockert; the district's share of the annual NE Metro 916 maintenance costs was stated as $60,434.00 and will be covered by a local non-voter-approved levy. The motion carried 6-0.
Sherman also moved to approve teaching assistant flexibility, Thelander seconded, and the motion passed 6-0.
During the workshop portion, staff reviewed the Q-Comp program as a district option to work with the teachers' union to provide targeted professional development and support for teachers. The presentation noted that Q-Comp funding is partly state-supported with additional local support from a non-voter-approved levy.
The board received a preliminary update on the 2026—627 budget and was told that formal approval will be requested at the June 23 meeting.
At 6:33 p.m., Sherman moved that the board convene in closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.03(b) to consider strategy for labor negotiations, citing sections 179A.01 to 179A.25; Hockert seconded and the motion carried 6-0. The public minutes list those present for the closed session to include board members and staff identified as Funk, Carlston and Schrul. The board returned to open session at 7:30 p.m. and the meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m. The minutes were submitted by Board Clerk Sarah Grcevich.
Next steps: staff will return to the board on June 23 with a request for formal approval of the 2026—627 budget and any related levy actions. No formal policy changes beyond those noted were taken during the workshop.
