Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
After reviewing references and approaches from three bidder firms, the Forest Lake board voted unanimously to hire Ray (Rea) and Associates to conduct the superintendent search and asked for an update at the March 5 meeting.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
The board directed administration to repost the previous board‑vacancy application and set a March 16 deadline for submissions, approved consent items, and received committee reports about facilities, a $4.5 million federal audit with a clean opinion, communications rebranding and special‑education services.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Forest Lake Public School District board voted 3–3 on Feb. 19, 2025, and failed to appoint Alec J. Beck (Beck Law Group) for limited representation of elected officials after public comment and board members raised transparency and qualification concerns.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
A motion to approve bundled changes to harassment/violence policy 04-25, the district's civil/criminal-assistance policy 12-11, and appointment of legal counsel failed on a 3-3 roll-call after hours of debate about "lawfare," legal review and transparency; members requested a written legal opinion before reconsideration.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Members of the high school chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) told the Forest Lake Area School Board about peer-support activities, the I Promise prom-safety campaign, a "needle reset" stress-ball fundraiser and plans to distribute 3,039 teddy bears to kindergarteners; club leaders said SADD has about 90 members.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board heard a STEP program showcase featuring student-led 3-D printing and Chromebook repair; staff said STEP produced 200+ prints and filled 80 requests districtwide. The board also heard a Project SEARCH success story: a former student, Maria, was hired at Fairview Lakes Medical Center.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Following presentations by MSBA, Ray & Associates and School Exec Connect, the board agreed to pursue further reference checks. Several members said MSBA and Ray & Associates were the preferred finalists; concerns focused on consultant availability, travel costs and whether lead consultants would be dedicated to a single Forest Lake search.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board members split over replacing the Forest Lake Times with the Pioneer Press as the district's official legal-notice newspaper. Chair argued for Pioneer Press circulation and flexibility; other members called the change unexpected and urged continued use of the local paper. After motions and an amendment, the final votes left the district without a designated official newspaper at adjournment.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
After a contentious debate and an initial failed vote that left the district temporarily without an approved counsel roster, the board voted to reconsider and approved item 8.6 as amended, directing the chair and vice chair to work with administration to add at least one comprehensive law firm for presentation to the board by early February.
Minnesota / School Boards / FOREST LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
NHS students and advisers reported 48 active members and about 1,500 volunteer hours so far; Lynwood Elementary Principal Mattson presented the school's SIP, literacy/math goals tied to FastBridge, SEL work and practice profiles (morning meeting, number talks, school forest) used to measure instructional fidelity.