Action of the School Board Action of the School Board 02/24/2020

ACTION SCHOOL BOARD
OF
THE
MEETING RECAP
Tom Heidemann
Board Chair
Marci Anderson
Marci Anderson
Vice Chair
Nicole Hayes
I
ISSUE 53, VOL. 11
Bill Harvey
Treasurer
Bill Harvey
Jeff Simon
Clerk
Jeff Simon
I
02/24/2020
William Fields
Director
Anna Dirkswager
Nicole Hayes
Director
Erin Heers-McArdle
Recognitions
Students named to Minnesota All-State Honor Choir
Tom Hagerty, principal of Jackson Middle School - Speciality School for Math and Science, introduced choir teachers
Joshua Palmquist and Ruth Morgan, and a group of students recognized for their selection to the Minnesota All-State
Honor Choir. Commended students include eighth graders Issac Nelson, Evelyn Kirkham and Ryu Vang and seventh
graders Calliou Vang, Agarty Berhanu, Kaetlyn Lee and Gabe Oelkers.
Communications, delegations and petitions
Val Holthus, Christine Jordan, Angie Ward and Bobbi Jo Rzeszutek provided testimony for School Board consideration.
Operations
Resolution providing for exercising the option to purchase the STEP building from Anoka County
Anoka-Hennepin schools formed a partnership with Anoka County and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
system (MnSCU) to construct a 60,000 sq. ft building on the campus of Anoka Technical College to serve high school
students interested in career and technical fields in 2000. Anoka County issued bonds to finance the $8.5 million
Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) facility. Anoka-Hennepin has made the principal and interest payments
on the bonds as part of the lease agreement. The final stipulation in the agreement allows the district to purchase the
building from the county for $1, an action which requires the approval of a resolution which was approved by the School
Board 5-0.
Facilities condition index evaluation - proposal
Greg Cole, chief operations officer, recapped a School Board planning process to employ a facilities condition index
evaluation to manage investment in the over 5.6 million square feet of existing school properties in a balanced and fair
manner. The process, planning system and capacity to complete projects are all under consideration as part of the plan.
The plan is intended to assist in planning for the next ten years. It was approved by the School Board on a 5-0 vote.
Finance
OPEB actuarial update
Phillip Souzek, Deloitte Consulting LLP, presented an actuarial review of post-retirement medical plan financial status for
School Board review. Prudent financial management and conservative use of these funds has delivered long-term benefits
for district taxpayers regarding obligations, including the ability to meet obligations while improving account assets
through 2030.
Other post retirement benefit (OPEB) investments
Michelle Vargas, chief financial officer, introduced Bob Cass, senior vice president at Wells Fargo, who presented
an overview of a financial trust formed in 2009 to fund post-employment benefit obligations. Cass highlighted past
investment performance has exceeded expectation and provided stability for district programs.
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