School Board Meeting Recap | July 1, 2026

Please join us in welcoming PACT parents Mitchell Wood and Jonna Meidal, as well as Secondary Teacher Garth Andersen, to the school board. We look forward to their fresh perspectives and commitment as we work together to support our students, families, and community.

For the 2026-2027 school year, Mitchell Wood (parent) will serve as Board Chair, Chad Lucas (parent) as Board Vice Chair, and Nicole Johnson (elementary teacher) as Board Secretary.

The Board reviewed a proposal to update pay rates for paraprofessionals and custodians. Under the new schedule, the most experienced paraprofessionals would earn more per hour than at neighboring schools, and custodial pay would become more competitive. This proposal represents a significant investment in the staff who support our students. The Board will vote on the proposal at the August 2026 meeting.

The operations team is making strong progress in preparing for the 2026-2027 school year. Facility improvements include new playground benches, ongoing patch-and-paint work, and stadium step repairs, as well as new hires in Building & Grounds and IT. Kelly Rosen takes over Transportation on July 1, and Community Education's summer programming is thriving with 98 students in Strength & Conditioning plus camps in football, dance, basketball, volleyball, and robotics. IT has rolled out enhanced phishing protection that's already blocked two attempts, while HR and Payroll continue a smooth transition into the new contract year. The Activities Department has also successfully transitioned to the new Bound calendar system for athletic registration and scheduling, improving the experience for families, coaches, and staff.

PACT received the two-year MnMTSS Grant, which will fund a full-time, districtwide MTSS Coordinator to align academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports and provide ongoing professional learning for staff. PACT published its 2026-2027 Local Literacy Plan, aiming to increase the percentage of K-12 students meeting growth targets from 62% to 65%. The plan also expands screening and intervention systems (FastBridge, NWEA MAP, and Capti ReadBasix) and continues to align with the science of reading through the new BILT institute and STRIVE training. In June, PACT leaders attended the MDE COMPASS Institute to gain insights on inclusive leadership, literacy, and MTSS implementation to further strengthen student support systems.

Ms. Scholten has moved from 4th-grade teacher to District MTSS Coordinator, and Shane Reinhard has accepted the Assistant Principal role, with several other positions still to be filled for the 2026-2027 school year. Reflecting on 2025-2026, PACT Elementary made meaningful progress in building a growth-focused culture, with 66% of K-5 students achieving a year's growth in reading, though only 48% met their more aggressive individual targets. This highlights continued work ahead on Tier 1 instruction and consistent implementation. Dr. Bronson also attended the Compass Summer Institute and the Minnesota Charter School Leadership Conference to strengthen instructional leadership skills.

The Secondary Campus has hired a new art teacher and social studies teacher, and hopes to soon add an ASL teacher, bringing a long-requested American Sign Language option to World Languages. Data from 2025-2026 shows encouraging growth, including 53.4% of 6th graders meeting the districtwide learning goal and strong gains among high-risk secondary students. This summer's projects include reworking the loft space and teachers' lounge, updating signage and branding, and finishing the DECA store ahead of fall. The team is also preparing for the launch of the Online Campus, with staff training complete and work underway on orientation, website updates, and materials for new families.

For the 2026-2027 school year, in-person K-12 enrollment has a waitlist of over 950 students. The Online Campus currently has 47 registered students. To increase Online enrollment in the final 60 days before school begins, we will launch paid social media advertising and host two virtual information sessions at the end of July.

The regular board meeting was live-streamed. A recording is available on PACT's YouTube channel. Once approved, complete meeting minutes will be published on the PACT website.

Mitchell Wood | Board Chair, parent

Chad Lucas | Board Vice Chair, parent

Nathan Plack | Treasurer, parent

Nicole Johnson | Board Secretary, teacher

Garth Andersen | teacher

Jonna Meidal | parent

Nicole Rhoad | community member

Dr. Nathan Flansburg | Superintendent