DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreements With Dakota County School Districts For School Wellness Projects Funded Through Minnesota Department Of Health Statewide Health Improvement Partnership Grant
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of joint powers agreements (JPA) with Dakota County School Districts for School Wellness projects through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP).
SUMMARY
Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is, and performs the duties and exercises the powers of, a community health board under Minn. Stat. ch. 145A, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents.
Dakota County Public Health has 15 years of experience working with school districts located in Dakota County on school-based prevention interventions and initiatives. This work is funded by the MDH SHIP grant. SHIP funding supports community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy food access, commercial tobacco-free living, and mental wellbeing. These initiatives provide Dakota County’s School Districts the opportunity and resources to enhance prevention efforts, and provide cost-effective, evidence-based best practices in chronic disease reduction via policy, systems, and environmental changes. Interventions are grounded in equity to ensure the initiative benefits all demographic groups with a priority focus on addressing barriers and ensuring safety for lower-income students, students of color and others facing significant disparities.
All ten school districts in Dakota County are provided an opportunity to apply and opt-in to non-competitive funding to support internal wellness efforts for students and staff. These applications will be due in fall 2025 and districts will have until October 2026 to use the funding upon approval of initiatives.
Under Minn. Stat. §471.59, subd.1, two or more governmental units may enter into an agreement to cooperatively exercise any power common to the contracting Parties, and one of the participating governmental units may exercise one of its powers on behalf of the other governmental units. Therefore, staff is requesting to enter into a JPA (Attachment: Joint Powers Agreement) with school districts throughout Dakota County for school wellness projects for the term upon execution of the JPA through October 31, 2026, with a total not to exceed as listed in the Resolution.
OUTCOMES
How Much: Up to ten school districts and an estimated total of 68,420 students will be supported via prevention efforts that focus on active living, healthy food, health equity, mental health, and youth vaping prevention.
How Well: Evaluation will be performed with the goal of 100 percent of responses indicating positive change in the schools and that the criteria to sustain change is met.
Is Anyone Better Off: Evaluation will include both quantitative and qualitative data to capture the impact to populations being supported.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to enter into JPAs with school districts throughout Dakota County for school wellness projects and for the term upon execution of the JPA through October 31, 2026, with a total not to exceed for each district as follows:
• Special School District 6 $ 8,629.77
• Independent School District (ISD) 191 $15,249.87
• ISD 192 $12,215.65
• ISD 194 $13,220.49
• ISD 195 $3,940.53
• ISD 196 $14,855.81
• ISD 197 $10,836.47
• ISD 199 $12,255.06
• ISD 200 $10,008.96
• Intermediate School District 917 $8,787.39
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The JPAs are completely funded through the MDH SHIP Grant which is included in the 2025 Public Health Budget.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is, and performs the duties and exercises the powers of, a community health board under Minn. Stat. ch. 145A, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County Public Health has 15 years of experience working with school districts located in Dakota County on school-based prevention interventions and initiatives and this work is funded by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grant; and
WHEREAS, SHIP funding supports community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy food access, commercial tobacco-free living, and mental wellbeing; and
WHEREAS, these initiatives provide Dakota County’s School Districts the opportunity and resources to enhance prevention efforts, and provide cost-effective, evidence-based best practices in chronic disease reduction via policy, systems, and environmental changes; and
WHEREAS, interventions are grounded in equity to ensure the initiative benefits all demographic groups with a priority focus on addressing barriers and ensuring safety for lower-income students, students of color and others facing significant disparities; and
WHEREAS, all ten school districts in Dakota County are provided an opportunity to apply and opt-in to non-competitive funding to support internal wellness efforts for students and staff; and
WHEREAS, these applications will be due in fall 2025 and districts will have until October 2026 to use the funding upon approval of initiatives.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to enter into joint powers agreements with School Districts throughout Dakota County for school wellness projects for the term upon execution of the joint powers agreements through October 31, 2026, with a total not to exceed for each district as follows, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s office as to form:
• Special School District 6 $ 8,629.77
• Independent School District (ISD) 191 $15,249.87
• ISD 192 $12,215.65
• ISD 194 $13,220.49
• ISD 195 $3,940.53
• ISD 196 $14,855.81
• ISD 197 $10,836.47
• ISD 199 $12,255.06
• ISD 200 $10,008.96
• Intermediate School District 917 $8,787.39
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Joint Powers Agreement
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☒ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Gina Pistulka
Author: Alexandra Groten