The following is the "Board Meeting Highlights" written by the Eden Prairie School District Communications Department from the Aug. 26 School Board meeting:

Board Meeting Highlights 8-26-08
[Board Meeting Highlights are created by the district Communications Department to provide stakeholders with a timely overview of the Board’s business meetings. These are not official minutes. Board-approved minutes are posted online after they’re approved at the following Board meeting.]
I. District Could Reduce Anticipated Deficit by $3 Million!
It is possible for the district to transfer $3 million to a new funding source outside of the General Fund! Patricia Magnuson, the executive director of business services, brought a resolution to the Board that set the stage for this possibility. If given final approval later this year, this would mean that the district would experience a $7.2 million shortfall in the 2010–2011 school year rather than $10 million. (That upcoming deficit is due to a lack of adequate state funding along with the rising costs of expenses like energy.)
The Board approved the two resolutions that mainly revolve around two district bond issues:
1. A $15 million bond issue for OPEB -
“Other Post Employment Benefits” (OPEB) are retiree medical and dental
benefits. These sorts of benefits were eliminated from the district’s employee contracts over the past decade, however employees hired prior to these contract changes continue to retire with these benefits. Due to a change in law, OPEB costs can now be funded through a Trust funded with a bond issue. This $15 million bond issue will free up $3 million in the General Fund by the 2010-2011 school year.
2. Alternative Facilities Funding –
We are one of only 23 districts in the state that now qualify for “Alternative Facilities Funding.” (A district qualifies based the age and square footage of its facilities). Previously, we were unable to fund growing deferred maintenance needs or, as was done in 2004, we had to ask voters to approve a deferred maintenance bond issue to get the resources necessary to repair and maintain our buildings. Under Alternative Facilities Funding, however, we’re able to utilize board-authorized levy funding. The district is considering an $11 million bond issue to fund deferred maintenance needs for the next two years. Most of that money will cover mechanical systems (heating and cooling units), pavement, and roof repairs. This would free up ongoing operating capital for such things as bus replacement and text books. Alternative Facilities Funding is not available to be used for General Fund needs such as class size.
Both bond issues are board-authorized so voter approval will not be needed. The cost to the average homeowner (with a $300,000 home) would be less than $25 each year. A final vote to approve the levy for the above items will take place in mid-December and the bonds will likely be sold in January .
II. Board’s Annual Work Plan
The Board approved its annual work plan which spells out which Board Governing Policies it will be monitoring and when. This calendar also indicates Board learning opportunities as well as other Board business.
III. AYP/MCA Review
The Superintendent added a review of the latest Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-II) data to the annual work plan. She mentioned that MCA-II results are mixed, and AYP results were quite disappointing. Administrators are in the process of analyzing the results. They’re taking them very seriously. The Superintendent has already met with each principal. They have set new AYP target goals for each school and each subgroup of students for this school year. More will be presented to the Board this fall.
IV. Gretchen Durkot: retiring
Superintendent Krull and the Board took a moment to acknowledge Gretchen Durkot, the director of student support services, who’s retiring. She has been with the district for 15 years. She’s known as a legend in the state with her passion and expertise around special education. Gretchen thanked the Superintendent and the Board for the opportunity to work for our district and for all the support they have given her and her team.
V. Kickoff/New Staff
This is workshop week. A separate “Kickoff” celebration is being held at each school this year. The Board is welcome to attend. We’re welcoming back about 1500 staff members as well as more than 70 new teachers and about 50 new paraprofessionals district-wide.
If you have any questions about this, or any other, Board meeting, feel free to contact the district Communications Department at communications@edenpr.org. You can also connect with our School Board members. Their contact information can be found on our district website, www.edenpr.org, under “Who We Are” and “School Board.”