Our mission is to provide multiple opportunities to our students that help develop character, community and a sense of belonging.”

East Ridge Assistant Principal and Activities Director Sarah Palodichuk

Student achievement in athletics, fine arts and extracurricular activities took center stage during the South Washington County School Board's June 25 meeting, where district leaders celebrated another successful year before the board approved several policy and budget measures for the coming school year.
Activities directors from East Ridge, Park and Woodbury high schools presented annual reports highlighting state tournament appearances, conference championships, academic honors and growing student participation in school-sponsored programs.
East Ridge Assistant Principal and Activities Director Sarah Palodichuk said the district's mission extends beyond wins and losses.
"Our mission is to provide multiple opportunities to our students that help develop character, community and a sense of belonging," she said, noting that East Ridge hosted nearly 300 home athletic, music, theater and activity events during the 2025-26 school year.
The school board meeting began school recognitions by recognizing the East Ridge's boys lacrosse team, which earned third place in the Class AA state tournament. Head coach Aaron Peterson credited the team's talented roster, strong culture and community support for the successful season.
In fine arts, East Ridge had held its fall musical Matilda,, with ‘Pride and Prejudice’ for the one act play, and ‘Clue’ for the spring play.
Woodbury Principal Sarah Sorensen-Wagner took the podium next, presenting the report on behalf of departing Activities Director Jodi Loeblein-Lecker, praising her work developing student leaders through the school's Leadership Council. Loeblein-Lecker is being succeeded by Chad Sexauer.
Sorensen-Wagner shared that Woodbury had celebrated another strong athletic year, including a second-place finish in the boys 4x800 relay at the state track meet, a 21-win baseball season, three consecutive conference and section championships in boys swimming and diving, multiple state qualifiers in track and field, wrestling and golf, and continued excellence in theater, music and speech.
On hand to speak regarding the Woodbury boys second place finish in the 4x800-meter track relay at the state track meet was senior Parker Pietruszewski, who said sharing the accomplishment with longtime teammates made the finish especially meaningful.
"Taking second wasn't what made it special," he told the board. "I got to do it with my best friends and get another week of my senior season." The relaying team consisting of Keigo Engel, Pietruszewski, Owen Riter, and Brendan Fahey broke the school record in 7:53.01.
The presentation highlighted success across numerous programs, including a fifth consecutive Suburban East Conference championship in girls golf, a fourth-place finish at the state tournament, a first-ever girls basketball state tournament appearance, another state championship by swimmer Logan Hoverman, a Section 3 championship and state appearance in boys volleyball, and continued success in adaptive athletics. Fine arts at Woodbury included ‘Mean Girls,’ which won nine Hennepin Arts Spotlight Awards. Other fine arts activities at Woodbury including a one act play entitled “A Green River,” with the school being Section 3AA Champions., as well as a spring play entitled “Our Town.”
As for Park High, Activities Director Phil Kuemmel presented along with Administrative Intern Lander Hicks, reporting that 61 percent of male students and 65 percent of female students participated in at least one Minnesota State High School League activity during the school year.
Kuemmel emphasizing that athletics remain an extension of the classroom.
"We're education-based athletics,” Kuemmel said. "We create learning opportunities for students to develop character, become well-rounded citizens and achieve excellence in their school activities and community."
Among Park's highlights were a fourth-place finish at the state softball tournament after winning a section championship, a state semifinal appearance by the girls flag football team, numerous wrestling and track state qualifiers, academic team awards and multiple coaching honors.
Kuemmel also highlighted community service efforts, leadership development opportunities and memorable events such as Hockey Day Minnesota, where Park's girls hockey team played outdoors in a nationally recognized showcase.
As for fine arts for Park High, Hicks spoke on the fall play “Walk Two Moons” as well as Chamber Theater and the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which earned Hennepin Theatre Spotlight Awards.
School board members thanked the activities staff for the opportunities provided to students throughout the district.
"I just really appreciate all of the work all three of you and Jodi do to help our students shine in all of their unique ways," board member Simi Patnaik said, adding that both as a parent and board member she was grateful for the experiences offered to students. Another board member praised the leadership teams for helping students succeed both athletically and personally.
Following the annual activities presentation, the board unanimously approved seven policy revisions involving human resources and transportation.
“This evening I am asking for approval on four policies that fall into the 400 series, which are Human Resources area, as well as three policies in the 700 series, which happen to be around transportation,” Nielsen said.
The board also approved the district's budget adjustment guiding document, establishing the framework administrators will use as they develop approximately $13 million in budget reductions. Superintendent Julie Nielsen said the document serves as "guardrails" for the budget planning process and reflects revisions discussed during the board's June 11 workshop. Nielsen said the budget losses were being driven by a loss of students to charter and school choice at the secondary level, with impact felt in fiscal year 2027. Because the state pays a set amount for each student, a drop in enrollment means a drop in funding. The deficit at the end of 20207 without adjustments would be $8 million on account of enrollment losses.
Also June 25, the board approved the district's preliminary 2026-27 budget, with Business Services Director Kris Blackburn noting no changes had been made to the general fund or nutrition budgets since they were presented earlier this month. Community Education figures were updated to reflect negotiated salary and benefit changes.
Additional actions included approval of South Washington County Schools' $116,087 share of the Northeast Metro 916 long-term facilities maintenance budget and ratification of a new two-year contract with the district office support specialists bargaining unit, which includes annual wage increases of 3.25 percent in 2026 and 3 percent in 2027, along with increased district health insurance contributions.
The meeting closed with the superintendent’s update, with Julie Nielsen giving updates on Kids Club childcare, Skoolie Days, neighborhood activities, and community parade participation. She also noted district officials are monitoring forecasts for extreme heat and severe weather as summer programming continues.
South Washington County School Board meeting are held at the District Service Center in Cottage Grove. The next board meeting is July 16 at 6:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.