08/30/2025

Written by: Elizabeth Hanke

I’ve received questions about if and how people can speak at a Mankato Area Public Schools Board meetings.

📆 Our next School Board meeting is Tuesday, September 2nd.
You can view the agenda and meeting details here:
👉 School Board Agendas & Minutes

If you would like to address the School Board, you must sign up in advance by completing this form by 3:00 PM on the day of the meeting:
👉 Sign-up Form

You’re welcome to share your thoughts, but please remember not to use specific student or staff names to protect privacy.

A few notes on the topics I am hearing the most about:

🚌 Busing:
As we begin a new school year, adjusting to new routines can be challenging. In past years, busing during the first week of school (as was my experience with busing my kids to Dakota Meadows), was inconsistent but typically improves by the second week. You’re welcome to speak on this issue. It might fall under Agenda Item 4.A. Back to School Report, or if you have a policy-related suggestion, you may want to reference:

• Policy 707 – Transportation
• Policy 709 – Student Transportation Safety Policy

Framing your concerns as a policy recommendation increases the likelihood of actionable change.

🛡️ Safety:
Concerns related to safety may also be addressed under Agenda Item 4.A. Additionally, several policies related to safety are up for a first reading:

• Policy 501 – School Weapons
• Policy 414 – Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Abuse
• Policy 418 – Drug-Free Workplace/School
• Policy 809 – Crisis Management

📏 Class Sizes:
If you’re interested in speaking about class sizes, this topic would most likely fall under one of the following agenda items:

• Agenda Item 4.A – Back to School Report
• Agenda Item 5.B – Consent Agenda: Personnel

At this time, there are no policies currently on the agenda that directly relate to class sizes.

💬 Communication:
There are a couple of communication-related policy reviews on the upcoming agenda:

• Policy 515 – Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records
• Policy 524 – Internet Acceptable Use Policy

📅 School Calendar:
A topic that drew a lot of attention last year—the school calendar—is also up for policy review:

Policy 602 – Organization of the School Calendar

📚 Curriculum:
While curriculum hasn’t been a part of recent discussions, there are two curriculum-related policy reviews on the upcoming agenda:

• Policy 606.5 – Library Materials
• Policy 631 – Literacy and the READ Act

📄 For the complete list of policy reviews on the agenda, you can view it here:
Full Policy Review List – September 2025

I hope these suggestions give you an idea of how to effectively address the board to support actionable change. I’m a big fan of following up any discussion or concern with an email. Below is the contact information for the current Mankato Area Public School Board members, listed in the same order as off of district website:

Shannon Sinning
Chair
📧 ssinni1@isd77.org
🗓️ Term ends: Dec. 2026

Kari Pratt
Vice Chair
📧 kpratt1@isd77.org
🗓️ Term ends: Dec. 2026

Erin Roberts
Clerk
📧 erober1@isd77.org
🗓️ Term ends: Dec. 2028

Christopher Kind
Treasurer
📧 ckind1@isd77.org
🗓️ Term ends: Dec. 2028

Patrick Baker
📧 pbaker1@isd77.org
🗓️ Term ends: Dec. 2026

Liz Ratcliff
📧 eratcl1@isd77.org
🗓️ Term ends: Dec. 2028

Elizabeth Hanke
📧 ehanke1@isd77.org
🗓️ Term ends: Dec. 2028