The options are to remain a member of the league or not, it’s just that simple.”

High School Athletic Director Trent Hanson

The ISD 200 School Board met on Wednesday, June 18 for a work session, discussing the possibility of opting out of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), legislative updates after the special session, the timeline of the district’s election in November, and the finalization of language for the district’s new strategic plan.
MSHSL Contract
High School Athletic Director Trent Hanson answered questions from the board regarding Hastings athletics and the lawsuit filed on May 19 by the Texas nonprofit Female Athletes United regarding transgender students in high school athletics.
The case names various plaintiffs including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, MSHSL Executive Director Erich Martens and three school boards: ISD 11, 192, and 279.
The lawsuit claims that due to Minnesota’s laws that allow transgender student athletes to participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity, “Minnesota’s policy expands opportunities for male athletes to compete and experience victory at the expense of female athletes. Minnesota’s female athletes suffer as a result—experiencing fewer opportunities to play, win, advance, and receive recognition in their own sports.”
The lawsuit claims that Minnesota’s laws discriminate against female athletes and violates Title IX.
Among those student athletes referenced in the suit are two students from Farmington who competed with a transgender student on the softball team.
School Board Chair Carrie Tate expressed concern over legal liability for school districts due to the inconsistency between Minnesota State and Federal law.
While nearby school board are named as plaintiff’s in the case, Director of Human Resources Cathy Moen said that nothing had changed for Hastings due to this lawsuit, that there was “no new exposure or liability for the school district.”
Hanson fielded questions on the actions of other districts regarding this lawsuit as well as options for the district.
While the lawsuit “hasn’t had a direct impact on any of our kids, teams or programs,” said Hanson, the board’s options with the MSHSL are limited.
“The options are to remain a member of the league or not, it’s just that simple,” said Hanson.
Not approving the contract with the MSHSL would stop ISD 200 from competing in varsity and junior varsity sporting events.
“There will be no co-curricular athletics as we know them,” were ISD 200 to cut ties with the MSHSL, said Hanson.
“I’m not aware of another district who will not approve,” the contract with the MSHSL said Hanson.
Hanson further warned the school board that were these sports to end, there would be a “long line to withdrawal” from the district. Roughly 50% of students in the district participate in an activity, according to Hanson.
The school board will vote on the issue next month.
Legislative Updates
Superintendent Tammy Champa spoke about new changes from the legislature that affect ISD 200.
While the board approved the 2025-2026 budget at the May 21 meeting, specific funding for various areas was still unclear due to the legislature not finalizing spending until the June 9 special session.
Superintendent Champa detailed some of these changes and how they will affect funding in Hastings.
Changes in compensatory funding result in a decrease of $39,795, “largely due to declining enrollment,” said Champa in an email.
Changes to Student Support Personnel will result in a loss of $81,219.
Minnesota’s reduction of Special Education Transportation Funding from 100% to 95% is expected to cost the district $221,331.
Finally, Hasting is set to lose $25,392 from decreases in Library Aid Funding.
While several of these losses were able to be planned for, including a remapping of the district’s special education transportation, others were “not on people’s radar for being reduced,” said Director of Finance and Operations Jennifer Seubert.
Special Election Timeline
ISD 200 released a full schedule for the upcoming special election to permanently fill the seat formerly held by Jenny Wiederholt-Pine. In April, the board voted to temporarily seat Elaine Mikel-Mulder on the board through the end of 2025.
“There’s a lot of steps to be filed, published, posted,” said Administrative Assistant LynDee Humble.
The first term for the new board member would begin January 5, 2026.
Strategic Plan work
Finally, the school board continued to work on the final language for its strategic plan. This process, which has gotten “a life of its own,” said Vice-Chair Jessica Dressely, has been built from the district’s perception survey and various community collaboration meetings among other influences.
The board moved to condense the core values down to four: compassion, innovation, voices and choice, and partnership. Various language from the vision to strategic anchors was also tweaked.