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.

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, individuals must make a written request to the board secretary up until one minute before the start of a board meeting. The guidelines for public comment are distributed in person at each school board meeting and are outlined in board policy 216.

PUBLIC COMMENT UPDATE: Pursuant to the resolution adopted at the board meeting on April 6, 2020, the following change was made regarding public comment:

Individuals who wish to address the school board during a regular school board meeting 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, individuals must make a written request by noon on the day of the board meeting by emailing Board Chair Timothy Pollis at Timothy.Pollis@rpsmn.org. These guidelines for public comment will be read at the start of the school board meeting as outlined in Board Policy 216 and Policy Guidelines 216.1.

CLARIFICATION: As meetings are now conducted in a hybrid format (with both online and in-person attendance options, public comments should be submitted up until one minute before the start of the meeting if attending/commenting in person (original guidelines) or by noon on the day of the meeting if attending/commenting virtually (April 2020 guidance).

Board Calendar

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July 2021

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sun, Jun 27

Mon, Jun 28

School Board Meeting

7:00 PM

Board Room

Tue, Jun 29

Wed, Jun 30

Thu, Jul 1

Fri, Jul 2

Sat, Jul 3

Sun, Jul 4

Mon, Jul 5

Tue, Jul 6

Wed, Jul 7

Thu, Jul 8

Fri, Jul 9

Sat, Jul 10

Sun, Jul 11

Mon, Jul 12

School Board Study Session: How to Become a School Board Member

6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

Board Room

School Board Meeting

7:00 PM

Board Room

Tue, Jul 13

Wed, Jul 14

Thu, Jul 15

Fri, Jul 16

Sat, Jul 17

Sun, Jul 18

Mon, Jul 19

Tue, Jul 20

Wed, Jul 21

Thu, Jul 22

Fri, Jul 23

Sat, Jul 24

Sun, Jul 25

Mon, Jul 26

Tue, Jul 27

Wed, Jul 28

Thu, Jul 29

Fri, Jul 30

Sat, Jul 31

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

7-12-21

2020-21 School Year Archives

2019-20 School Year Archives

Board Member School & Committee Assignments

Represent-a-School Assignments

Centennial Elementary School

Director Paula Cole

Sheridan Hills Elementary School

Director Crystal Brakke

Richfield STEM School

Chair Tim Pollis

Richfield Dual Language School

Director Paula Cole
Director Peter Toensing

Richfield Middle School

Director Allegra Smisek

Richfield High School

Director Christine Maleck

Central Education Center & Richfield College Experience Program

Director Peter Toensing

Liaison Assignments

Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD)

Director Peter Toensing
Director Crystal Brakke
Superintendent Steven Unowsky (Assistant Superintendent Latanya Daniels as alternate)

Activities Advisory and Fundraising Advisory Committees

Activities Director Jared Ellerson
Superintendent Steven Unowsky
Director Peter Toensing (Fundraising)
Director Crystal Brakke (Activities)

Board Representatives – Negotiations & District Insurance Committee

Chair Tim Pollis
Director Peter Toensing

Community Education Advisory Council

Director Paula Cole

District Construction Committee

Director Christine Maleck
Chief HR & Admin Officer Craig Holje

District Curriculum Committee

Director Christine Maleck
Director Allegra Smisek
Assistant Superintendent Latanya Daniels

District Health, Safety & Wellness Committee

Director Peter Toensing
Director Allegra Smisek
Chief HR & Admin Officer Craig Holje

District Technology Committee

Director Christine Maleck
Director of Technology Cory Klinge

(ECSU) Metropolitan Educational Cooperative Service Unit Executive Committee

Superintendent Steven Unowsky

Fiscal Planning Advisory Committee

Director Peter Toensing (Director Crystal Brakke as alternate)
Chief HR & Admin Officer Craig Holje
Director of Finance James Gilligan

Friends of Wood Lake (FOWL)

Director Christine Maleck

Headway Emotional Health Services

Director Christine Maleck

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

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 Christine Maleck
Director Paula Cole

Richfield Community Services Advisory Commission

Director of Facilities & Transportation Dan Kretsinger

Richfield Foundation

Director Peter Toensing
Superintendent Steven Unowsky

Richfield Historical Society

Director Paula Cole

Richfield Human Rights Commission

Director Allegra Smisek

RPS Foundation

Director Peter Toensing
Superintendent Steven Unowsky

Richfield Spartan Foundation

Director 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

Director 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 on November 2, 2021, for three of the six school board member seats. The new term will begin on January 3, 2022.
The candidate filing period for the 2021 election opens on July 27 and closes on August 10 at 5 p.m. Candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy along with a $2 filing fee in person or by mail with the school district election clerk at the district office. Please contact Cassandra Quam at cassandra.quam@rpsmn.org or 612-798-6012 with any questions.

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

CRYSTAL BRAKKE

BOARD OF EDUCATION, DIRECTOR, Term: January 2020-24

PAULA COLE

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

CHRISTINE MALECK

BOARD OF EDUCATION, CLERK, Term: January 2018-22

TIMOTHY POLLIS

BOARD OF EDUCATION, CHAIR, Term: January 2018-22

ALLEGRA SMISEK

BOARD OF EDUCATION, TREASURER, Term: January 2020-24

PETER TOENSING

BOARD OF EDUCATION, DIRECTOR, Term: January 2018-22

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About the Richfield School Board

Upcoming Board Meetings

Resources

Public Comments

Board Calendar

Archived Agendas & Materials

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

Liaison Assignments

Learn More

School Board Basics

Board Responsibilities & Member Expectations

Running for School Board

Resources for Candidates

Recent Board Meetings

Contact the Board

CRYSTAL BRAKKE

PAULA COLE

CHRISTINE MALECK

TIMOTHY POLLIS

ALLEGRA SMISEK

PETER TOENSING

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