School Board

Responsibilities

As the elected governing body of Eden Prairie Schools, the School Board is responsible for:

• Establishing and monitoring School Board policies. District administration (superintendent, assistant superintendents, directors, principals, etc.) implements district policy and supervises school operations.
• Employing and evaluating the Superintendent, the chief executive who oversees all operations of the school district.
• Developing and approving an annual work plan for each school year in accordance with Board Policy GP 4.3. Adjustments and additions are made throughout the year as needed to accomplish the Board’s work.
• Advocating for students with state lawmakers.
• Establishing and approving the annual budget and audit.
• Setting the annual local school levy.
• Working with the administration to determine the district's educational goals.
• Interpreting the needs of the community regarding the educational program.
• Communicating with stakeholders.
• Ratifying employee contracts.

Compensation

Like most Minnesota school boards, Eden Prairie Schools offers a stipend for School Board service. Members of the School Board receive a stipend of $4,800 per year.

2027 School Board Elections will include four (4) open seats, each with a 4-year term.

File an "Affidavit of Candidacy" with the school district clerk at the Eden Prairie Schools Administrative Service Center, 8100 School Road.

• Filing Period - TBD
• Filing Fee:  $2.00
• You will receive a packet of information regarding campaign regulations and other documents to help you connect with Eden Prairie voters.
• Deadline to withdraw:  TBD
• 2027 Election Date:  TBD

If you have any questions please contact Laurie Hemstock, Elections Clerk, at 952-975-7072.

The Board has the following committees that meet at least monthly. Specific responsibilities of each can be found under Board Policy GP 4.8.

2025 Committees and Other Outside Assignments

• Board Development:  Abby Libsack and Ann Bradsher 
• Community Linkage:  Steve Bartz, Kim Ross and Jody Ward-Rannow
• Policy:  Kim Ross and Jody Ward-Rannow 
• Negotiations:  Aaron Casper, Steve Bartz and Abby Libsack
• Strategic Core Planning Team:  Steve Bartz and Kim Ross 
• Flight Plan 2035 Design Team:  Abby Libsack
• Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD):  Abby Libsack
• Intermediate School District 287:  Kim Ross

School Board meetings are held twice a month.

The Board holds a Workshop on the second Monday of each month, and holds its Regular Business Meeting on the fourth Monday of each month, both at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated. Workshops and Regular Business Meetings are located at the Administrative Services Center, 8100 School Road, Eden Prairie. All Board meetings are open to the public, except those specifically permitted by law to be “closed” for discussion of identified issues such as negotiation strategy or litigation (pursuant to Minnesota statutes).

see Meetings and materials 

Public Comment Guidelines

If you wish to speak during public comment, you will be asked to complete a comment card before the Board Meeting, which will be collected at the beginning of the meeting. Information included on this card is your name, address, relationship to the district and topic of public comment. Cards are also available at the Board meeting. Since the purpose of the meeting is for the Board to conduct its business, it expects all participants in the meeting to maintain a proper sense of decorum and respect for all points of view. Public comment takes place at the beginning of the agenda.

While your comments will be heard, please be advised that the Board will not respond to your topic in the meeting. If your comment requires follow-up, the Board Chair or Administration will get back to you as appropriate. Guidelines:

• A card must be completed and turned in prior to the start of the Board Meeting if you wish to make public comment
• Please be advised that you will only be allowed 3 minutes to speak.
• Complaints and/or personal attacks against individual Board members or employees, as well as violations of the Minnesota Data Privacy Act, are not allowed.
• The chair can, at any time, determine whether the speaker is outside these guidelines and redirect the speaker.
• Any Board member can call for point of order to express concern over direction of comments. The chair will then reiterate guidelines to ensure compliance.
• The chair may end comment for anyone not following the guidelines. If the speaker persists after being asked to stop, the chair could ask them to leave, recess the meeting and/or call security.

Please complete the card provided and leave card in the basket for collection by the Board at the start of the meeting.

Download the Public Comment Guidelines Download Public Comment Card

While they are in progress, regular business meetings can be joined using Zoom. Although the official record of Board business is meeting minutes, regular Board business meetings are also recorded for the convenience of our stakeholders. 

Watch past meeting recordings

The most recent board meeting is also replayed on local Public Access Channel 14 (SD) – 798 (HD) at the following times:

• Mondays at 8:00 a.m.
• Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
• Fridays at 11:00 a.m.
• Saturdays at 2:00 p.m.

The campaign financial reports for the candidates running for the Eden Prairie School Board are posted pursuant to statute 211A.02. Reports are posted as they are received.

Policy Governance is a process that provides a clear differentiation between governance and management responsibilities in organizations. The Eden Prairie School Board adopted the Policy Governance model and approved its own Board Policies in the areas of Executive Limitations, Board Management Delegation, Governance Process and Ends. Board Policies are intended to provide a clear distinction of Board and Superintendent roles.

The adoption of the Policy Governance model does not eliminate the need for district policies that govern the management of the district. State and federal law require school districts to implement policies that may be identified by the opening policy statement: “School districts are required by statute to have a policy addressing these issues.” The remaining policies adopted by the school district are based on statute and rule, but may be modified to reflect local standards and expectations. 

Eden Prairie Schools is a member of the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA). As a benefit of membership, their Policy Service is provided to school boards and administrators in order to develop policies and procedures for managing their school districts.