CC_Minutes_2008_0625Special Session

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Special Joint Meeting Roseville City Council and the Roseville Area School Board, District No. 623 Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Page 3 Chair Kitty Gogins observed that those items highlighted in the Imagine report were not inconsistent with those issues being pursued by the School Board; with diversity being one of those priorities, and various policies and objectives being in place now for five (5) years, and having great impact to the School District. Chair Gogins suggested that, with the School District's achievements to-date with di- versity opportunities, they could share their materials and expertise with the City as it continues to pursue community-wide diversity issues. Chair Gogins opined that children were only part of the picture, and that neighborhoods, parents and the entire community shared objectives. Chair Gogins noted that the School Board had built strategies around their "Equity Vision;" expressed her excitement about tonight's brainstorming discussion; and further opined that the more both bodies and the community as a whole worked cooperatively, the better for all par- ties. b. Roseville Area Schools Educational Planning Advisory Committee (EPAC#1) School Superintendent John Thein reviewed the EPAC completed in 2004 by a district residents working in collaboration with district staff members to develop a set of recommendations to direct the future of district facilities, finances and edu- cational programming. Superintendent Thein advised that he had used their rec- ommendations to develop a plan for the district, with subsequent School Board approval given in August of 2005, representing long-term (cornerstones represent- ing 12 - 18 months) and short-term (mileposts representing 3-5 years) goals form- ing that framework. Superintendent Thein recognized that this represented how a document shouldn't be static with many ideas originally thought to be very great eventually didn't work out, and others originally thought to have little merit turning out to be out- standing and having made the successful difference from 2004 to today, with a healthier School District being evidenced. Superintendent Thein advised that the School District was now considering the next phase, EPAC#2 planned for initia- tion in the fall of 2008, to prepare the District for the next five (5) years. Superin- tendent Thein advised that it was critical for the District to establish a planning group to receive input from all of the communities and municipalities represented in the District. Superintendent Thein expressed personal pride in the School Board and their active role as part of the community, seeking to achieve good things for the School District and the community. Superintendent Thein noted the financial health, increased enrollment, and status of facilities in the District compared to 2004. Discussion among the Board and City Council included age and diversity demo- graphics of the District; impacts of open enrollment and refugees as it relates to the District's diversity; cooperative work of the District with private schools; eco- nomic impacts to enrollment; cooperative services provided by the District to pri-