December 2nd, 2025
- Jessica Premo
- Dec 1, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 1, 2025
Setting Our Sights on 2026
I hope you all had a marvelous Thanksgiving break; mine was full of food, fun, and family. I stuffed myself with stuffing, lost a lot of card games (and won a few), and felt just a little sad when my youngest son lost his first tooth. When did he get old enough for that?
Now that we’re back, we have just three weeks of school and two weeks of winter break before 2026 arrives. So even though December is only beginning, I’m encouraging all of us to start thinking about January.
Together. Onward. Forward.
Josh Axtman
President, Eden Prairie Education Association
2026 Education Minnesota Political Conference
Education Minnesota will host its biennial political conference on Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January 31 at the DoubleTree by Hilton conference center in Bloomington. The conference will focus on coming together in 2026 to elect local, state, and federal leaders who respect the promise of public education for all.
The 2026 elections will carry particular importance here in Eden Prairie, with races ranging from school board to governor; we want our collective voice heard in each of them. If you want to learn more, be a leader, and help pro-education candidates succeed at the ballot box, then the 2026 Education Minnesota Political Conference is for you. More information is available here.
Registration is open through January 23, so you have time to consider it. I am hoping several members will join me so that the EPEA can organize effectively for next year’s political season. If you have questions, or if you are interested in attending, please email me at joshua_axtman@edenpr.k12.mn.us or epea4you@gmail.com.
Annual Audit Committee
Education Minnesota requires all local affiliates to conduct an annual audit, with specific procedures based on membership size. The EPEA falls in the 300–1,000 member category; this requires either a review by an internal audit committee of at least three members or a review by an independent CPA. Audit results must be published and made available to members.
Your committee members for 2025-26 are:
Jessica Brent, EPEA Treasurer
Andy Malone
Vic Pengilly
Michelle Rada
The committee met on Friday, November 14, 2025, to review the 2024–25 budget year. Brent Bovitz, former EPEA Treasurer, served as a consultant to the process. The committee found no discrepancies and made no recommendations.
Both the 2024–25 EPEA Audit Summary and the 2024–25 EPEA Audit Category Report are available in the Members Only section of the EPEA web site.
Annual Seniority List
Article XII, Section 5 – Establishment of Seniority List:
Subd. 1. The school district shall cause a seniority list (by name, date of employment, qualification and subject matter category) to be prepared from its records. The school district shall thereupon post such list in an official place such as the district website or other internal data system as agreed upon with the Association by the first working day of December of each year.
Subd. 2. Any person whose name appears on such list and who may disagree with the findings of the school district and the order of seniority in said list shall have fifteen (15) days from the date of posting to supply written documentation, proof and request for seniority change to the school district.
Subd. 3. Within fifteen (15) days thereafter, the school district shall evaluate any and all such written communications regarding the order of seniority contained in said list and may make such changes the school district deems warranted. A final seniority list shall thereupon be prepared by the school district, which list, as revised, shall be binding on the school district and any teacher, unless within ten (10) days after the publication of such final list an employee shall file a grievance, and in such case the grievance shall be
processed pursuant to the grievance procedure. Each year thereafter the school district shall cause such seniority list to be updated to reflect any addition or deletion of personnel caused by retirement, death, resignation, other cessation of services, or new employees. Such yearly revised list shall govern the application of the unrequested leave of absence
policy until thereafter revised.
The 2025-2026 Seniority List has been published on the district’s website. If you are a tenured staff member, please verify your placement on the list; you have fifteen days from the publication date (Monday, December 1, 2025) to notify the district in writing if you believe your placement is incorrect.
Guidance from Your Member Rights Advocate
If you are in need of support at an administration meeting, believe there is a contract violation, or have performance/conduct-related support request, please connect with Carla Thompson (Lead MRA)
cthompson@edenpr.org or 952-240-6577.
Member Benefits:
Built In Benefits With Membership
ESI PerksConnect - discounts to area activities and restaurants
NEA Discount Marketplace - discount tickets and travel programs
IDEA is 50 Years Old — And at Risk
November 29 marked the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It’s cause for celebration, but also action, education advocates say.
With the passage of IDEA 50 years ago, America made a promise to students with disabilities and their families that they could participate fully in learning and reach their potential, says NEA President Becky Pringle.
As we mark the 50th anniversary, parents and advocates are encouraging everyone to join them in the fight to preserve IDEA in the Department of Education. Learn more at neaToday
.
The Eden Prairie School Board held its regular business meeting on Monday, Nov. 24. A significant portion of the meeting focused on presentations and demonstrations highlighting how AI is being integrated into classrooms, with students participating from the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Superintendent Swanson also recognized several recent achievements: Forest Hills Elementary received the 2025 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award; EPHS teacher Sheila Stalberger was named one of just twenty-five nationwide winners of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence; and EPHS teacher Linda Wallenberg was honored as one of three annual recipients of the Parr Prize for Excellence in Teaching Shakespeare.
Dec. 8 - School Board Meeting
Dec. 11 - Meet & Confer Committee Meeting
Dec. 15 - EPEA Rep Congress Meeting
Dec. 22 through Jan. 2 - Winter Break
"Kindness is like snow—it beautifies everything it covers." —Kahlil Gibran
Josh Axtman, EPEA President
Kristen Mantel, EPEA Vice President
Jessica Brent, EPEA Treasurer
Jessica Premo, EPEA Secretary