School Board

About the Richfield School Board

Members of the Richfield Public School District Board of Education set the vision and goals for the District, monitor progress and ensure accountability. Every decision they make is centered on what is best for students and incorporates student input throughout the process—from listening sessions with students to the inclusion of student board representatives. Student voice is reflected in the school board's policies, each of which is reviewed at least every five years to ensure continued alignment with the vision of the board and the needs of students, staff and families.

Photo above (left to right): Student Board Representative Elsy Cruz Parra, Board Member Rachel Banks Kupcho, Board Clerk Allegra Smisek, Board Chair Tim Pollis, Board Vice-Chair Paula Cole, Board Treasurer Crystal Brakke, Board Member Eric Carter, Student Board Representative Helen Dombrock (not pictured, Student Board Representatives Tyler Jake and Corrina Jones).

Upcoming Board Meetings

Resources

Public Comments

The Richfield Board of Education encourages open communication both during and outside of the board meetings. Board members work to be available to meet and talk with individuals.

If you wish to address the school board during a regular school board meeting, you may do so during the public comments portion of the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. Public comment occurs at the second meeting of the month. To participate in the public comments, you will need to complete this online form by noon on the day of the board meeting. If you are unable to complete the online form, you may contact Board Secretary Cassandra Quam at 612-798-6012 or cassandra.quam@rpsmn.org by noon on the day of the board meeting. The guidelines for public comment are distributed in person at each school board meeting and are outlined in board policy 216.

Board Calendar

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January 2022

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sun, Dec 26

Mon, Dec 27

Tue, Dec 28

Wed, Dec 29

Thu, Dec 30

Fri, Dec 31

Sat, Jan 1

Sun, Jan 2

Mon, Jan 3

School Board Meeting

7:00 PM

Board Room

Tue, Jan 4

Wed, Jan 5

Thu, Jan 6

Fri, Jan 7

Sat, Jan 8

Sun, Jan 9

Mon, Jan 10

Tue, Jan 11

Wed, Jan 12

Thu, Jan 13

Fri, Jan 14

Sat, Jan 15

Sun, Jan 16

Mon, Jan 17

Tue, Jan 18

School Board Meeting

7:00 PM

Board Room

Wed, Jan 19

Thu, Jan 20

Fri, Jan 21

Sat, Jan 22

Sun, Jan 23

Mon, Jan 24

Tue, Jan 25

Wed, Jan 26

Thu, Jan 27

Fri, Jan 28

Sat, Jan 29

Sun, Jan 30

Mon, Jan 31

Tue, Feb 1

Wed, Feb 2

Thu, Feb 3

Fri, Feb 4

Sat, Feb 5

Archived Agendas & Materials

To view earlier archives of board materials, please contact board secretary Cassandra Quam at cassandra.quam@rpsmn.org.

Campaign Finance Reports

2021-22 School Year Archives

2020-21 School Year Archives

2019-20 School Year Archives

Board Member School & Committee Assignments

Represent-a-School Assignments

Central Education Center

Director Allegra Smisek

Centennial Elementary School

Director Paula Cole

Sheridan Hills Elementary School

Chair Tim Pollis

Richfield STEM School

Director Rachel Banks Kupcho

Richfield Dual Language School

Director Paula Cole

Richfield Middle School

Director Allegra Smisek

Richfield High School

Director Eric Carter

Richfield College Experience Program

Director Crystal Brakke

Liaison Assignments

Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD)

Director Crystal Brakke (Director Allegra Smisek as alternate)
Superintendent Steven Unowsky (Assistant Superintendent Latanya Daniels as alternate)

Activities Advisory and Fundraising Advisory Committees

Director Eric Carter
Activities Director Jared Ellerson
Superintendent Steven Unowsky

Board Representatives – Negotiations & District Insurance Committee

Chair Tim Pollis (Insurance & Negotiations)
Director Crystal Brakke (Negotiations)
Chief HR & Administrative Officer Craig Holje

Community Education Advisory Council

Director Paula Cole
Director of Community Education Carole McNaughton-Commers

District Construction Committee

Director Allegra Smisek
Chief HR & Admin Officer Craig Holje

District Curriculum Advisory Committee

Director Allegra Smisek
Assistant Superintendent Latanya Daniels

District Health, Safety & Wellness Committee

Director Eric Carter
Chief HR & Admin Officer Craig Holje

District Technology Advisory Committee

Director Eric Carter
Director of Technology Cory Klinge

Fiscal Planning Advisory Committee

Director Rachel Banks Kupcho (Director Allegra Smisek as alternate)
Chief HR & Admin Officer Craig Holje
Director of Finance James Gilligan

Friends of Wood Lake (FOWL)

Director Rachel Banks Kupcho

Headway Emotional Health Services

Director Rachel Banks Kupcho

Hennepin South Services Collaborative / Richfield Community Council/Alliance for Families & Children

Director of Community Education Carole McNaughton-Commers

Intermediate District 287

Director Crystal Brakke

Metro South Adult Basic Education

Director of Community Education Carole McNaughton-Commers

Minnesota State High School League

Chair Tim Pollis
Superintendent Steve Unowsky
Activities Director Jared Ellerson

MSBA Delegate Assembly

Director Paula Cole

PELSB Board

Superintendent Steven Unowsky

Richfield Chamber of Commerce

Chief HR & Admin Officer Craig Holje

Richfield City Council (Planning Commission if appropriate)

Director Paula Cole

Richfield Community Services Advisory Commission

Director of Facilities & Transportation Dan Kretsinger

Richfield Foundation

Superintendent Steven Unowsky

Richfield Historical Society

Director Paula Cole

Richfield Human Rights Commission

Director Allegra Smisek

RPS Foundation

Superintendent Steven Unowsky

Richfield Spartan Foundation

Chair Tim Pollis

Safe & Support Schools Advisory Committee

Director Crystal Brakke (Student)
Director Allegra Smisek (Student & Parent)
Executive Dir. of Special Programs Mary Clarkson
Director of Student Support Services Christina Gonzalez

Superintendent Strategic Advisory Committee

Superintendent Steven Unowsky
One board member per meeting, rotates

Work Experience Advisory Committee

Chair Tim Pollis

Learn More

School Board Basics

The Richfield Public School District is governed by a six member school board.
Each member is elected at large and serves alternating four-year terms.
Elections are held in years ending with an odd number.
School board members receive a monthly $500 stipend in exchange for their public service. There is an additional $300 per year for the member serving as clerk and $600 per year for the member serving as chair.

Board Responsibilities & Member Expectations

The school board is responsible for setting the District vision and goals, monitoring progress and ensuring accountability.
The school board creates and updates District policies.
The school board hires, directs and evaluates the superintendent.
School board members are required to attend training in governance, school finance and education law.
School board members are expected to prepare for and attend board meetings twice per month and additional committee meetings as needed.
The school board votes on which of its members should fulfill the roles of chair, vice chair, clerk and treasurer.

Running for School Board

To run for school board, you must be at least 21 years old, an eligible voter, reside in the district for at least 30 days prior to the election, and never have been convicted of a felony.
The next school board election will take place in November of 2023, for three of the six school board member seats. The new term will begin in January of 2024.

Resources for Candidates

Minnesota School Board Association: Becoming a School Board Member
Minnesota Secretary of State: Minnesota Secretary Of State - Campaign Filing Packet

Recent Board Meetings

Contact the Board

TIMOTHY POLLIS

BOARD OF EDUCATION, CHAIR, Term: January 2022-26

PAULA COLE

BOARD OF EDUCATION, VICE CHAIR, Term: January 2020-24

RACHEL BANKS KUPCHO

BOARD OF EDUCATION, DIRECTOR, Term: January 2022-26

Student Board Representatives

Student board representatives attend board meetings and provide board members with their perspectives on agenda items. They are key in providing student voice at the board level, and they frequently bring issues back to their high school peers and share what they hear from the board.

At the beginning of each school year, the RHS administrators advertise openings for student representatives, and interested students must fill out an application. The RHS administration interviews the interested students and selects representatives. Students then meet with the superintendent and board chair to ensure they understand the expectations and want to commit to the role.

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