SF197

Purpose

Expands school board membership to include student members and sets up processes for selecting and training student representatives, while adjusting how boards are sized, elected, and governed under Minnesota education law.

Main Provisions

• Student members on school boards
  • Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, districts must establish a process to select two student members from students who are residents, enrolled in the district, and in grades 9–12.
  • Student members must vote by students in grades 9–12, serve two-year terms beginning July 1 after selection, and may serve up to two terms.
  • A student member may attend meetings, introduce items, participate in discussion, and vote on any matter before the board.
  • Districts should strive for participation by students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and all gender identities in the selection process.
• Eligibility and training
  • Sex offenders convicted of certain offenses cannot become a candidate for school board or student member, based on current registration requirements.
  • All board members, including student members, must receive training in school finance and management within 180 days of taking office, with training developed in coordination with the Minnesota School Boards Association.
• Board composition and election timing
  • If a district’s board is six members, the board may be expanded to seven by voter referendum, or reduced back to six by referendum.
  • Where a district already has seven members, a vote can reduce the board to six; or vice versa, through a public vote.
  • Time and process changes for changing election years may be enacted, with voter referendums required to approve the change in election years (referendum procedures and deadlines apply).
• Vacancy and removal rules
  • Vacancies occur for death, resignation, moving out of the district, or long illness; special rules apply for filling vacancies, including the possibility of board appointments and later elections to fill the remainder of the term.
  • A petition to reject an appointed member can invalidate the appointment; valid petitions must meet specified voter thresholds and deadlines.
  • The board can remove a member for proper cause by a four-member vote after notice and a hearing.
• Meetings and governance
  • A majority of voting members constitutes a quorum; the board can hold regular or special meetings with proper notice.
  • The board may adopt rules for organization, government, and instruction, and may contract with postsecondary institutions for courses.
  • Proceedings must be published or summarized for public information, with optional mailing of summaries where publication is impractical.
• Compensation
  • The board sets compensation for the clerk, treasurer, superintendent, and other members, and may reimburse for transportation; some incentive-based pay restrictions apply.
• Special districts addressed
  • For Independent School District No. 5 (areas including districts with five elected members and two student members), the bill reiterates the two student members and sets terms and related processes.
  • For Special School District No. 1 (the Minneapolis area), the bill specifies a board of seven elected directors and two student members, with two student members and a mix of district- and at-large elected directors; terms are four years, with other specifics aligned to the general provisions.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduction of two student members on most Minnesota school boards beginning 2025-2026, with a defined selection, eligibility, and term structure.
• Expansion or adjustment of board size in some districts:
  • ISD No. 5: maintains two student members, adds clarity on terms and election timing.
  • Special School District No. 1 (Minneapolis area): increases board size to six district-elected members plus three at-large members, along with two student members.
• Creation of standardized training requirements for all school board members, including student members.
• Clear processes for filling vacancies, including special elections timelines and petitions to reject appointees.
• Sex offender eligibility restrictions for those seeking school board office.
• Mechanisms to adjust election years via referendum, with defined timelines and petition support thresholds.

Relevant Terms - school board - student member / student members - elected director - four-year term - two-year term - vacancy - special election - petition to reject - referendum - district by district elections - at-large seats - district- vs. at-large directors - Special School District No. 1 - Independent School District No. 5 - grades 9–12 - residency and enrollment - training in school finance and management - compensation and reimbursement - quorum - board meetings - proceedings (publication or summary) - sex offender ineligibility - Minnesota School Boards Association