MARCH 23, 2020 - Due to the current situation dealing with COVID-19, students were not in attendance at the board meeting. However, the board still recognized their efforts as part of the agenda.

Good News Item #1: 
The Society for Science & the Public has named Gautham Nair, Shakopee High School student, a top 300 scholar in the 79th Regeneron Science Talent Search. Nair will receive $2,000, and Shakopee High School will also receive $2,000 to use toward STEM-related activities. 

Good News Item #2: 
Shakopee High School senior Grace Myler has been named one of the state's top two youth volunteers of 2020 in the 25th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. In 2016, Grace worked with her mother to start Threads for Teens. The non-profit organization provides clothing to girls ages 13-21 who are in foster care, at risk, in homeless situations or come from low-income families. 

Good News Item #3: 
Congratulations  to our unified basketball team on bringing home 1st place in the Division-A State Tournament. For the tournament, general education and special education students pair together to form a basketball team and compete against other high schools in the state. Congrats Andrew Hennen, Reid Koetke, Isaiah Peterson, Jonathan Fredricks, Aiden Johnson, Justin Manning, Tommy Bazzarre, Ethan Horner, Kaden Fiebelkorn, Lucas Blofield, and Jayemason Ungar.
 
Good News Item #4:
Congratulations to outstanding junior and senior athletes that have been named ExCEL Award and Triple-A winners. This year, Sophie Moran and David Bigaouette were named ExCEL winners. The ExCEL Award stands for Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership. In addition, two students were named Triple-A Award winners by MSHSL. This award recognizes academics, arts and athletics. Congratulations to Aavani Varadham and Ben Koller. 

Good News #5: 
Congratulations to members of our Shakopee Swim and Dive Team on advancing to the Class 2A State Swim and Dive Meet. Congrats Evan Schroeder – 50 and 100 free, Adam Thornberg - 500 free, and Ben Koller - diving.
 
Good News #6: 
The Shakopee wrestling team is the best team in the state. Shakopee repeated as Class 3A state champions in February at the Xcel Energy Center when they defeated Stillwater 34-21 in the championship match. Connor Warren, Leo Tukhlynovych, Blake West (individual qualifier), Paxton Creese (individual qualifier), AJ Smith, Pierson Manville (individual qualifier), Ben Lunn (individual qualifier), Seth Bakken, Riley Quern, Sam Treml, DJ Smith, Carson Manville (individual qualifier), Jadon Hellerud, Connor Raines (individual qualifier), Jack Casey (individual qualifier), Joey Johnson (individual qualifier), Jade Trelstad (individual qualifier), Tommy Johnson (individual qualifier), Ben Reiland, Ella Dellwo (manager), and Maddy Larson (manager).

Approval Items

The board approved the following items (click on each item to learn more): 

• Unaffiliated Employers Salary Agreement
• Sale Resolution for 2020C Bonds
• American Indian Annual Compliance 
• Converting Meetings to Teleconference

Discussion Item 

Director of Finance Bill Menozzi provided a finance update at the March 23 school board meeting. As of February 20, 2020, the district has received 56.16% of its $99.4 million General Fund revenue budget, while the district has spent 54.7% of its $98 million General Fund expenditure budget. Please visit the following link for additional information:Budget Update. Menozzi's presentation also included information on General Fund budget adjustment options, and possible General Fund Operating Levy scenarios. Due to the level of uncertainty impacting our community and our country, Menozzi shared only a "reader's digest" version of  budget challenges in an effort to honor the commitment to do so from a previously shared timeline presented on March 9. At this point in time, district focus has shifted from analysis of possible solutions for budget challenges to implementing a new system of operations. At an appropriate time in the future, the district will return to conversations pertaining to budget challenges and similar matters.