The Faribault Public Schools Board meeting on April 20, 2026, focused heavily on instructional improvements in literacy, significant policy updates regarding artificial intelligence and attendance, and the approval of the district’s property sales and financial audits.
- Instructional Celebration: Jefferson Elementary The centerpiece of the meeting was a presentation by the Principal Nick Jurns and his team at Jefferson Elementary regarding their implementation of the Science of Reading (LETRS) and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
- Instructional Shift: Teachers have moved away from traditional guided reading with leveled texts toward a systematic, phonics-based approach using decodable books. Research shared during the meeting indicated that first-grade students need 50% of literacy time spent on phonics and phonemic awareness, requiring 15 to 30 practice repetitions per skill to achieve fluency.
- “Read the Rainbow”: The team introduced an organized rotation system where students perform independent “jobs,” such as phonics fluency and digital curriculum tasks, allowing teachers to provide targeted small-group instruction.
- Reading brain: Phonics, de-codable books, read to learn; building comprehension
- Board Response:
- Differentiation between program growth and other forms of learning
- Support specifically for phonics instruction
- Instructional coach, modeling and small group, for professional development
- Data Success: The first-grade team achieved the highest growth in the building for reading and math between fall and winter benchmarking. Furthermore, recent progress monitoring showed that the rate of student reading fluency growth nearly doubled, jumping from an average of 3.61 words per minute to 5.85 words per minute. Rate increased 3.81% Sep-Jan and 5.85% Jan-April.
- Impact: Teachers reported a significant increase in student confidence, and Principal Nick Jurns noted that parents have been so impressed by the growth that they have brought treats to the school to celebrate teacher efforts.
- District Information and Student Highlights
- Board members and the Superintendent shared various updates on student activities and achievements:
- Arts and Events: Student Representative Williams reported recent performances included the middle school play Too Many Ghosts and the high school musical Footloose. Superintendent Benty highlighted several district activities, such as a Kindergarten trip to the Arboretum, a Spanish 2 Guatemala project creating worry dolls, and the Middle/High School choir’s performance at a Timberwolves game.
- Community Service: The Student Council ran a highly successful Red Cross blood drive that required additional staff to handle the high volume of student donors.
- Chair Bellingham reminded the board of the upcoming High School Awards Program on May 6th and the expectation for 100% board participation in the School Board Leadership Scholarship.
- Alumni Recognition: The Faribault Highflyers Banquet recently honored four distinguished alumni, with many awardees attributing their success to the inspiration of their former teachers.
- Overall, very community oriented cultural, creative, and social events. Board members seemed proud to share their successes with community inclusivity and turnout.
- Policy Updates and the New AI Policy:
- Committee members Moore and Steeves The board conducted several policy readings, including a notable new addition:
- Clarification from board during meeting: verbiage used in statutes discussed by board are extensions of Minnesota state statute.
- Artificial Intelligence (Policy 625): The board held the first reading for a 14-page policy regarding the responsible use of AI. Superintendent Benty noted that while only a few states have such policies, it will likely be a “living document” that requires frequent updates because AI technology often becomes obsolete by the time it is printed.
- Policy Debates: There was significant discussion regarding Policy 503 (Student Attendance). Move to redefine student truancy. Concerns were raised by Director Moore about the potential for “manipulation and abuse” regarding how student services (like 10-minute appointments) count toward attendance for state funding. The board also clarified that new provisions for cultural observances in this policy specifically refer to American Indian cultural practices, which would require parent signatures.
- Habitual truancy: 7+ days absent is considered child neglect if a child is 12 and under. If a child is 12+ and every effort by the parent is made, truancy is put on the child for the courts.
- Mention of ICE activity in the months of January-February, and its effect on the school’s ability to continue enrollment if a student misses 15+ days of school.
- Approved 5-1
- Personnel Data (Policy 406): A revised policy to disseminate personnel data to labor organizations for union elections passed despite opposition from Moore regarding political neutrality. Moore argued that labor unions are typically affiliated with the DFL.
- Approved 4-2
- Policy revision for student surveys: Policy revision proposed parental applicable procedures to access surveys or evaluations on the basis of right to inspect. Moore was opposed.
- Approved 5-1
- Financial and Facility Actions
- ALC Property Sale: The board approved the sale of the Area Learning Center (ALC) property for $1,050,000. The proceeds will be used for capital improvements, specifically the remodeling of the McKinley building, where ALC students will move.
- Auditing Change: The district voted to switch its auditing firm to Clifton Larson Allen, a move expected to provide cost savings.
- Health Insurance: An 8% increase in health insurance premiums was approved for non-teacher employees to ensure the self-funded plan can cover rising utilization costs.
- Donations: The board accepted approximately $5,300 in gifts and donations from community groups like the Elks Lodge and American Legion for hygiene products, food, and program enhancements.
- Personnel and Board Governance
- Staffing Changes: The board approved placing one administrator on unrequested leave due to the dissolution of an assistant principal position and voted on the non-renewal of certain probationary teachers.
- Board Handbook: The 2026 School Board Member Handbook was approved. An amendment was passed to ensure the superintendent’s evaluation includes “measurable” goals, though amendments to change the board’s committee assignment process and salary listings failed.
- The meeting concluded with a reminder of upcoming events, including Community Unity Day on May 15th
