School Board

Board Members (pictured left to right): Liz Niemioja, Jake Klingner, Sarah Larsen, Darcie Pierson, Shana Dukes, Carrie Lounsberry, Sherry Warrick

The District 199 Board of Education is comprised of seven voting members elected at-large from the total school community. The superintendent serves as a non-voting ex-officio member. School Board members represent ISD 199 on district committees and in partnerships. Click on the "School Board Members" tab below to see what committees our members are assigned to.

School Board Members

Liz Niemioja

Jake Klingner

Sarah Larsen

Darcie Pierson

Shana Dukes

Carrie Lounsberry

Sherry Warrick

Cindy Nordstrom (not pictured)

School Board Roles & Responsibilities

This basic list of rules and responsibilities will be used to assist the board to better function as a team by generating discussion at a board work session.

Our Board Team:
1.	Adopts a district vision and/or mission for district improvement.
2.	Adopts annual goals and priorities for district improvement.
3.	Improving student learning is the primary focus of our board team decision-making.
4.	Ensures the budget reflects the district’s strategic goals and priorities.
5.	Uses district provided data and reports to assess progress and identify areas needing improvement.
6.	Conducts business only at properly called meetings under the Open Meeting Law.
7.	Maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive communication.
8.	Information is shared equally with all board team members.
9.	Members are open and honest with each other.
10.	Members communicate with one another in a respectful manner.
11.	Members support the decision of the board even when the vote is not unanimous
12.	Our leadership team conducts comprehensive orientation activities to familiarize new board members with their role on the team.
13.	The board chair and superintendent work together to develop a tentative agenda for the board to approve at its meeting.
14.	Our board meetings are effective.
15.	All board members are prepared for meetings.
16.	Has a process for public participation at its board meetings and follows it.
17.	Understands and follows the district chain of command.
18.	Our superintendent exhibits confidence and trust in each member of the board.
19.	Each board member exhibits confidence and trust in the superintendent.
20.	Demonstrates support and respect for the superintendent's role as the chief executive officer of the district.
21.	Evaluates the superintendent's performance at least annually.
22.	Evaluates the superintendent's performance against predetermined goals.
23.	Direction to the superintendent comes from the board as a whole, not individual board members.
24.	Deals with conflict openly and honestly.
25.	Conducts district business in accordance with established ethical standards.
26.	Works to ensure a process is in place for effective internal and external communication.
27.	Uses the policy manual to make decisions and to define its expectations of the school district.
28.	Reviews the district policies on a three-year cycle.
29.	Appropriately establishes and uses committees.
30.	Supports a culture of professional development for itself and district staff.
31.	Participates in an annual self-assessment to set and/or review progress of the board's improvement goals.

School Board Meetings

Meeting Packets & Agendas

Each month, board minutes are approved for the previous month's meeting. For example, June minutes get approved at the July board meeting. Official board minutes are posted once they are approved by the school board.

Board Packets and Agendas January 1, 2015 to Present:

Board Packets from July 2014 - December 2014:
September 22, 2014 Amended Board Packet
September 22, 2014 Board Packet
August 18, 2014 Board Packet
July 14, 2014 Board Packet

School Board 3 Year Agenda

Public Listening Sessions & Public Comment

Public Listening Sessions

ISD 199 Public Listening Sessions are held before each regular school board meeting from 5:10-5:25 PM. Sessions are designed to create a more informal setting for residents to engage in conversations with board members about school or district concerns. Two school board members and the superintendent will be available during each session to discuss issues with Inver Grove Heights residents.

Public Listening Session Signup

Please complete your signup at least an hour before the meeting.

Public Comment

If you wish to address the Board at a regular meeting and the topic you wish to address is on the agenda, you will be asked to come forward at an appropriate time during the meeting.

Public Comment Signup

Please complete your signup at least an hour before the meeting.

Processes for Public Listening Sessions & Public Comment

To encourage community participation and to conduct these sessions properly and efficiently, the following processes have been established for people who wish to provide public comment to the school board and superintendent:

Depending on the number of forms submitted, the session facilitator may set time limits to ensure all public comments are addressed during the scheduled session. If multiple people wish to speak on the same topic, the board members or the superintendent may ask that a spokesperson be designated to allow more time for discussion. Individuals may not merge allocated speaking minutes or defer allocated speaking minutes to other speakers on the same topic.
Individuals presenting to the school board and superintendent must identify themselves and/or any group they are representing. Individuals may offer comments on their own behalf and do not need to be affiliated with a larger group.
While comments and questions on issues are welcome, law prohibits the board from discussing concerns about individual employees or students in public meetings. Please forward comments regarding individuals to the superintendent.
Electronic presentations will not be permitted. However, written summaries are accepted.

The school board and superintendent will not respond to or discuss comments. The superintendent may be asked to prepare a future response to specific questions. Public Listening Sessions will not be recorded, but official meeting minutes will be published on the district website. All public attendees will be listed anonymously in the minutes and the district will terminate the remarks of any individual who does not adhere to the established guidelines.

More about the district’s requirements can be found in Board Policy 206.