Development News for Richfield, Minnesota

RHS Baseball Team Receives Anonymous Donation for Field Improvements

The Richfield High School (RHS) baseball team received an anonymous donation of $719.15 specifically for nets at Lindale Fields. The board accepted this donation with gratitude. The motion to accept was made by Director Tompkins and seconded by Director Cole, passing with a unanimous vote.

Board Declares Vacancy Following Member's Relocation

The board formally declared a vacancy on the Richfield Public Schools board, effective August 1st, 2026, following the resignation of Ms. Paula Cole due to her relocation to North Carolina. Ms. Cole will continue to participate remotely for her final two board meetings. The board discussed various methods for filling the vacancy, including an application and interview process, inviting former board members, or appointing the runner-up from the most recent election. The appointed member will serve until the remainder of the term, ending January 21st, 2027, following an election in November 2027. A motion to declare the vacancy was made by Director Lista and seconded by Director Dennis.

District Enhances Pay-to-Ride Transportation Policy with Focus on Equity and Efficiency

The board approved the "Pay-to-Ride" service guideline (policy 743), implementing changes to increase student participation and improve equity. Key updates include determining space availability based on the average number of students riding the bus daily, rather than just capacity, to accommodate more pay-to-ride students. The previous first-come, first-served system was replaced with a three-round processing system that prioritizes students living further from school and closest to the two-mile or one-mile boundary. Communication regarding intent to ride will be sent out to families to improve planning. The district will subsidize a significant portion of the transportation costs, with pay-to-ride covering less than one-third of the actual cost per student. The guideline passed on one read, with the motion made by Director Spencer and seconded by Director Liss.

School Board Approves Student Transportation Policy and Addresses Safety Concerns

The board reviewed and approved policy 742, "Student Transportation Services," and administrative guideline 742.1 on its second reading. The policy clarifies district branding and style guidelines related to transportation services and addresses students' rights, eligibility for transportation, walk zones, hazardous crossings, and transportation for students with disabilities. The board discussed the determination of hazardous walk zones, noting that historical perspective and board action inform these designations. Maps of walk zones are available on the transportation website. A discussion also occurred regarding the model year of Class III vehicles, with a suggestion to investigate the safety regulations behind the 2007 model year specification. Additionally, concerns were raised about traffic safety at the intersection of 35W and 76th Street, with a note that the city is examining the issue for potential improvements within the next three years.