Okay, we admit it:
We got lazy.

With a 3–3 board, we thought we could take a tiny breather. A moment. A sip of water. A single blink.

But of course, we should have known better.
Because everything Curt touches eventually starts to smell, and all you have to do is lean in a little to catch the whiff.

Last week, MLP already laid out the stench cloud drifting off Curt’s attempt to:

• yank the board out of the harassment policy, and

• expand the taxpayer-funded legal umbrella so board members could get district-paid defense not just for actual legal issues, but for possible ones.

Translation:
Curt wants to do whatever he wants, and if someone files a complaint, the district should foot the bill for his mess.

We’re not stepping on MLP’s post — they nailed it.
But thanks to a tip from a friend of Board Watchers, we found a new rotten potato rolling around the bottom of the agenda basket.

And oh, did it reek.

The Curious Case of Beck Law Group

Beck Law Group was tucked neatly into a bundle of other, perfectly reasonable attorneys — almost like someone hoped we wouldn’t look too closely. But we did. And the closer we got, the worse the smell became.

First clue:
Google says Beck Law Group is permanently closed.
Not exactly the confidence-inspiring start you want from someone vying to represent a school district.

Second clue:
We searched “Alec Beck” + “law” + “school district.”
Nothing.
Nada.
Not even a crumb.

Why would a lawyer supposedly seeking to represent a school district have zero public record of ever working with one?
Sometimes what you don’t find is the loudest part.

Our source confirmed the name — Alec Beck — after we sifted through a whole orchard of unrelated Becks (including a Kevin who honestly looked like a better fit). But once we locked onto Alec?

Oh, we found the rotten potato.

The Résumé No One Asked For

Here’s what turned up:

1. He’s a personal lawyer — not a school district lawyer

Nothing wrong with personal law, but it’s not exactly the lane you want for someone advising a public school system.  Follow up for future us, has he ever personally represented anyone on the board.... hummmmm

2. He works with the United Parenting Coalition

A group pushing “school choice” and “parent rights.”

Now, we’re all for parent rights — truly.
But in this context, “parent rights” is code for attacking school policy, not defending it.

How does that align with our strategic plan?
Spoiler: it doesn’t.

3. His name pops up alongside the Upper Midwest Law Center

A group known for aggressively targeting school districts over DEI and equity policies.

So let’s recap:
He attacks school districts.
He challenges school policy.
He aligns with groups hostile to public education.

And Curt wants him representing our district?
Sure, Jan.

4. And then there’s the MyPillow moment

Yes, that MyPillow moment.

Alec Beck made headlines when he decided — apparently on his own initiative — to file one of the Dominion lawsuits on behalf of the MyPillow empire.
This little adventure resulted in a very abrupt “we’re done here” moment between him and Barnes & Thornburg, where he had been a partner.

A legal cowboy, riding off into the sunset with someone else’s liability.

Is that the energy we want advising our schools?

We can see why Curt likes him.
And by the transitive property of “can’t think for themselves,” we can see why Tessa and Mark like him too.
And maybe a few anti–public school folks in the district would enjoy the chaos.

But the rest of us?
We’re relieved the board voted NO last week.

Except… guess who put the rotten potato right back on this week’s agenda

Curt did.

Of course he did.

And this time, we’d really love to hear him explain — out loud, on the record — why he wants this guy so badly.

Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this:

When Curt is determined to push something through, it’s never for the good of the district.
And it’s never odor-free.

Let’s make sure we don’t let this one slide.

The past few meetings are pretty much nothing burgers but we trust this board so little we still poke in to see what they are trying to backdoor. Let’s get one thing straight: the trust in this board disappeared over a year of bad decisions, power grabs, and a chair who treats public governance like his own personal fiefdom.  We won't let our guard down just because they are in a 3:3 stall and pretty much doing nothing.

Doing nothing is still a problem, just not as headline-worthy. School boards exist to move the district forward, not sit frozen 3:3 while the community waits.  The fact they can't choose a 7th member is something I believe we foresaw...  (thats fancy for "I told you so)

Meanwhile, the board’s actual work?
Picture a sink full of dishes.
Now picture never doing them.
Ever.
At what point does it get disgusting?
At what point does someone walk in, take one whiff, and say, “Oh wow, something died in here”?
That’s basically our governance right now — a festering pile of deferred responsibilities, but still, better than Curt getting his way so we will be getting some paper plates and joining the standoff supporting the 3 board members who actually want to help students and teachers.  If any of the others take their head out of Curt's ass long enough to see the damage this is doing, they can vote their conscience.  Or maybe they just agree with Curt and aren't being led on a leash and we are just lucky enough to have 3 genuine maga people who all want to mess with public education.  When you can find a spare billion to fund ICE to terrorize people with less than islandic skin tone it is not about 'saving money' or 'fiscal responsibility' when they want to cut budgets for education and cut diversity or equity. 

And yet, even in this era of paralysis, Curt somehow found the energy to mess with public comment. Because of course he did. When you don’t want to listen, the next step is to start rewriting the rules so fewer people get to speak.

And the way they did it? By conveniently leaving out any mention that the public is allowed to address the board. That’s a sneaky attempt to silence people without admitting you’re silencing people.  

Let’s not forget where this energy comes from.
Curt — the same Curt who drives around with a Confederate flag on his car — has made it abundantly clear he’s more interested in shutting down discussion than fostering it when he made a policy to remove speakers he disagreed with (found not legal and reversed). He’s the one pushing to weaken public comment, the one who wants to normalize hate symbols by taking them off a prohibited list, and the one who treats community input like an inconvenience instead of a responsibility.

And one more part that should make everyone sit up: They’re blocking the appointment of legal counsel.  Blocking. Legal. Counsel.

What exactly is the plan here?
Hope the statutes magically interpret themselves?
Pretend liability doesn’t exist if you don’t ask about it?

Leaving the district legally unprotected is reckless.
And might cost the district - and in turn tax payers - a lot of money.  Thought they were for fiscal conservativness and transparency?

Anyway — for those who want the straight, factual recap of the meeting, I’m sharing below a summary from someone who actually enjoys attending these things and writes a solid report. She gave me permission to repost.

But for everyone who comes here for the poo patty in the nothing‑burger, I hope you see what I see and will ask about it at the meeting this week using a green card while you still can.

Full summary of 1/22/26 school boar meeting:

Because of the extreme cold, many items were canceled, including all committee meetings and the expected superintendent‑search presentation.

Consent Agenda -The consent agenda, which included bills and personnel changes, was approved without discussion. (as it should be)

School Newspaper Designation -A compromise was reached to split district publishing between both newspapers. Member Rebelein drafted the motion but did not provide copies as previously agreed, so the administration supplied them. The discussion remained professional, and the compromise passed.

Para Short‑Call Substitute Policy - The board approved a policy allowing paraprofessionals to serve as short‑call substitutes in special education settings. This makes sense, as paras often know the students and their needs better than outside substitutes. The board was in agreement.

Appointment of Legal Counsel - This item is a semi-carryover from the previous meeting, an additional 4 lawyers (no firms) were submitted and approved. 1/8 meeting Member Rebelein had presented a shortened list of firms that did not provide full legal coverage for the district. The board initially rejected the list, leaving the district without legal representation, but later reopened the item and approved it with the understanding that additional firms would be added to fill the gaps. It remains unclear why the board did not simply approve the firms used in prior years.

Wyoming Bid & Permission to Bid - Both items were standard administrative requests. The approved bid went to companies with a long history of work in the district. No unusual discussion.

Appointment to the Vacant Board Seat

The board considered three candidates.

• Courneya: All members spoke positively, but the vote split 3–3 along expected lines.

• Pease: Discussion of the candidate was brief as the opinion was expressed that additional discussion appeared pointless; Member Antonsen expressed surprise by that observation, further saying she had already made her choice (semi-proving that discussion would be pointless), same 3:3 split.

• VanBuren Hansen: vote occurred with nearly no discussion, basically proforma after the earlier two votes, no surprises; 3:3 same split.

There was no discussion about next steps or the broader process for filling the vacancy.

Policy 1206 – “Green Cards” (Public Comment on Agenda Items)

The board clarified that community members do not need to request a week in advance to speak on an agenda item; the advance notice applies only to requesting that an item be added to the agenda. However, the board did not clarify how green cards will be allowed or managed going forward. Given the frequency of last‑minute agenda changes over the past year, many community members remain concerned about transparency and the potential narrowing of opportunities for public comment. Without a clear policy allowing green cards, I worry it will be eliminated.

Very brief update on the superintendent search and then adjourn

Again she said it with grace I like to highlight the poop 

Next meeting this week Thursday~

We are not super interested in recapping meetings, but, have heard from many readers that they appreciate the insights about what the Puck is going on because sometimes topics seem innocent or dull but there is a trap or a gotcha or just a deeper meaning that some people have a talant for laying out plainly.  We hear you and are here to help!. MLP posted a good recap today and I saw the recap below on facebook and asked the author if it was ok for me to repost it.  (I'll add some snark thoughts at the end~)

If anyone attended or watched the board meeting last Thursday, that contributed to my stress!  Watching them dismiss long-time legal counsel for the district is troubling, and the refusal to name Forest Lake Times as the district paper seems punitive.  At this time we don't officially have a designated paper for notices and that impacts the ability for some district business to happen.  *to be fair* this board decision is *only* for district legal notices that you may or may not ever read (they are in tiny print and usually on the dull side after the news and before the sports).  The Forest Lake Times reporting is totally independent of the board and hopefully they continue on with their work that has our own kids achievements and local topics of interest published regularly (why I personally subscribe)

I try not to use this space to be political; however, this is harmful to our schools and if you have time today, here are some topics you may want to email or call our school board regarding:

1. Designate the Forest Lake Times as the school paper - small newspapers need consistent income that business like this provides, and they are a constant in our community; we would hate to lose them.

2. Add back long-term law firms - the reason for their dismissal is murky at best; however, the board did agree to explore options to cover the district needs (currently only partially met by the list approved).  Good time to weigh in as a community

3. Encourage the spirit of compromise and cooperation.  Gail, Julie and Jill compromised and voted yes for the less-than-perfect legal list Curt created to make sure the district had any legal coverage at all. Then: Curt, Tessa and Mark snubbed the opportunity to return the spirit of compromise by refusing to support the times so currently we have NO PAPER - they would rather put the district in jeopardy than compromise.

4. Remind Member Kasel that he is VERY BEHIND on required training.  He had a year to take the basic board training and has not managed yet.  BTW, he was confirmed treasurer with no training over member Christenson, who has completed the training.  Maybe also remind them they ran on fiscal responsibility and transparency...

5. Last but not least - the board also failed to assign committees, and, Curt absolutely disregarded the preferences of Jill, Julie, and Gail.  This is not district stopping inaction but just petty.   I expect better from grown adults and I hope you all do too.  Remind Curt that the role of the chair is to facilitate not dictate or use his position to exert influence.  Technically, he got the fewest votes of anyone at that table from the public, but his role as chair does not make his voice more important....

She said it with grace.
I’m going to say it like someone who’s run out of patience.

This board is cosplaying civility while actively manufacturing chaos, slapping a “leadership” sticker on it, and hoping the community’s too polite to call it out. Newsflash: we’re not.

Compromise isn’t a favor. It’s the bare minimum.  Cooperation isn’t a personality quirk. It’s a job requirement.
And governance isn’t a dodgeball match.

So if you’re watching this circus and thinking, “Surely someone’s going to say something?” — congratulations, it’s you.
Write the letters. Send the emails. Make the calls.
Because if they’re going to treat public service like a game, it’s time the public reminded them who’s keeping score.

Well folks, MLP exceeded our word allotment, so I'm popping in with one short thing.

We would like to formally welcome the pod people who appear to have taken over the bodies of Tessa, Curt, and Mark. Honestly? We hope they stay. The calm and coherence of the last meeting were refreshing if eerie.

So whatever happens tonight in the next round of candidate voting, we hope actions and decisions are grounded in rational reality and not personal grievances or political theater.

But let’s be honest — we’re not holding our breath.

Another special school board meeting, another episode of “Forest Lake’s Got Drama.” This time, candidate interviews to replace Luke — the real entertainment came from the board itself and an arsenal of loaded questions but here are some quick highlights.  We have to be brief since there is another meeting to tune into tonight to see the conclusion of this train wreck, but, this meeting was another reminder of why we keep showing up. These interviews weren’t just about candidates — they were about the board itself, revealing the habits, hang‑ups, and hostility that have become all too familiar. And that’s exactly why this blog exists: because when people in power try to reshape our schools in ways that strip away diversity, silence voices, or narrow what students can learn, someone has to call it out.

Tessa vs. The Blog
Tessa tried — bless her heart — to accuse one of the candidates of writing this very blog. The problem? She got so tangled in her own incoherent rambling about how angry she is that this blog exists, she never actually asked a question. Time ran out, and the accusation fizzled into thin air. Pro tip: if you’re going to throw shade, at least land the punch.

Curt vs. Free Speech
Curt, meanwhile, spent his prep time combing the internet for posts from candidates he doesn’t like. Yes, Curt, people continue to have free speech. And yes, some of them don’t like you. Glad you got that on the record though — nothing says “leadership” like trying to police opinions instead of policies.

Kasel vs. Luke’s Ghost
Luke may be gone, but Kasel apparently misses him dearly. Nearly every candidate was asked how they would be “like Luke.” Thank all that is good in the world, there is nobody like Luke. We don’t need a sequel to that performance.

The Blog in the Room?
We’re delighted that Tessa and Curt read this blog. They may ignore emails, but at least they know our thoughts from here. And just to dial up the heat: were the authors of this blog in the room? Were they candidates? Will they be the next board member? Who knows…

The Semi‑Valid Point
To be fair, Tessa’s half‑formed complaint about this site deserves a quick response. On our homepage, we’ve said:

“From dismantling Achievement and Integration (A&I) to targeting student club culture, pushing to allow* hate symbols like the Confederate flag and swastika, and aligning with partisan groups like the Minnesota Parents Alliance—this isn’t leadership; it’s a hostile takeover of Forest Lake public schools.”

We have other posts on this topic, but to clarify again: the board majority wants to remove the specific prohibitions on hate symbols and replace them with a vague “no disruption” clause.  Our translation: kids can wear Confederate flags or swastikas until someone complains, harm is done, and only then can the administration act. That’s not protection — that’s permission.

And let’s not forget: Curt drives a car with a Confederate flag on it. If he thinks that’s fine, it’s no wonder he doesn’t see the problem.

Why We Fight
We wouldn’t be this involved if we didn’t love this district and think it’s been doing a fantastic job for years. We’re constantly dismissed as “minor,” but we know Tessa reads — and we’re pretty sure a couple thousand others do too.

And here’s the truth: we will continue to watch, and we will continue to call out poor behavior, especially from those who are seeking to change our schools in ways we fundamentally disagree with. If there are people who want no diversity, who want to strip away protections, who want to narrow what students can learn — they can go join the Minnesota Parents Alliance.

This site is for people who believe schools should be places where all kids belong. Where students can study all of history, read all the books, and be allowed to thrive. That’s the vision we’re defending, and we’re not backing down.

At the latest school board meeting, in the first 5 minutes, the chair pulled out his favorite trick: sneaking politics onto the stage while pretending it was neutral and businesslike. This time, he decided to compare the moment of silence a year after the murder of George Floyd, to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, with a side order of shade on the administration by leaving out key details regarding the moment of silence, but hey, everyone has a style - half-truth, hyperbole, and false equivalency are having a hayday in this era and Curt is on board with that.

Let’s be blunt: both acts of violence are wrong. Both deserve outrage. Petending they carry the same historical or systemic weight? That’s a textbook false equivalency.

George Floyd’s murder came quickly to mean more than one man—it was a flashpoint after centuries of systemic racism, the kind Governor Walz acknowledged when he called for a statewide moment of silence “for every person whose life has been cut short due to systems of racism and discrimination in Minnesota.” It was rooted in justice and acknowledgment of work to be done, not a knee-jerk reaction for a single individual.

Kirk’s assassination was horrific; nobody should be killed for their words, but it was not the result of a centuries-old system designed to deny him housing, healthcare, voting rights, or safety under the law. Equating the two is political spin.

What’s even more telling? The board has never scrambled to issue public statements for other assassinated leaders or for the children killed by bullets in Minnesota schools. But this particular pairing was singled out—because it was useful to the chair’s personal narrative. 

And then there’s the excuse: this statement was read because “so many” people asked. Really? How many is “so many”? Five? Ten? A petition? Or is this just selective listening, where only certain voices magically qualify as “significant”? Asking for a community that keeps getting tuned out.

Oh, and the kicker: standing by the door was a certain failed school board candidate, more focused on Curt’s every scripted word than the meeting itself. If you’re wondering who’s feeding him lines, the body language might gave it away. She’s a puppetmaster; he’s the useful idiot, and she left before any school business was even done, showing her focus was never on the school.

So yes—we noticed. We noticed the politics, the performance, and the deliberate erasure of systemic racism under the cover of “balance.” And no, we’re not buying it

Well folks, the curtain rose on another episode of The Board That Cried Transparency, and wouldn’t you know it—

Act I opened with  Luke—who apparently strapped on the big passive-aggressive boots (they make him taller) with a monologue directed at a community member who dared to express discomfort about police presence at the last meeting. Apparently, they should have “paid more attention to the agenda,” because the officer wasn’t there for us, heavens no—just a “specific item.” Nothing to see here. Turn up the gas. The light isn’t bright enough.

Except… it is. And we saw it.

Because while the board insists the officer was just a prop for a single agenda item, the reality is that police presence has become a recurring character in this drama. It’s about optics. Viral optics. The kind that makes a board look “tough” while silencing dissent with a badge in the background.... So a twist for those of us watching from home; the person he was scolding from the board table was literally in the room. Yes, she spoke again. Yes, she had the audacity to exist. And yes, there was an officer in line of sight again. I usually stick to cartoons, but the irony here practically draws itself.

Act II: The Faux Purpose

Then came the next line in the script: a wooden exchange between Luke and Curt, spoken with approximately 19 'umms and uhhaa', Luke lobs a softball—“Can you remind people of the purpose of the school board?”—and Curt, with a robotic tone replies, he just happens to have the answer pulled up on his screen. Because nothing says authentic leadership like reading state policy from a teleprompter.

Let’s be clear: if you need to read off a screen to remember why you’re on a school board, you shouldn’t be on one. The purpose isn’t a script—it’s a conviction. It’s about supporting schools, securing resources, and creating a framework that district staff can actually use. Full stop.

Curt’s screen-read moment wasn’t just awkward—it was revealing. It showed us the core issue: this board isn’t driven by heart, it’s driven by politics, power, and optics. And Curt? He’s the kind of robot who tries to simulate emotion but keeps glitching when empathy is required.

 Enter Act III: a chaotic romp through Roberts Rules that felt less like governance and more like a maze inside a labyrinth inside a fever dream. Allegedly, they were creating policy. In reality, it was an hour-long farce, and Curt, as usual, was clinging to his process binky of making sure Roberts rules are followed.  For something intended to make things easier and clear, Curt must be doing it wrong.....  Anyway.... here is a recap

Policy committee? What’s that? Some on the board think policy should be at least reviewed by the policy committee. Luke strongly disagrees—and said the quiet part out loud. Big Boots Luke is just trying to save us all time, you see. He never plans on listening to the committee, so why bother pretending they matter?

Tessa, confused as ever, does want the committee to review it… she just can’t quite articulate why. Possibly because she’s getting puppeted by a group that wants opt-out policies for classes and testing—so conservative parents can shield their kids from the liberal cabal of social-emotional learning, diversity and inclusion, evolution, the study of Africa or slavery, world religions… the list goes on.

And while she’s constantly talking about increasing academic test scores, even her little brain knows that opting out might tank those numbers. But: parent rights! But: accountability! But: smoke… brain fail… system reboot.

Meanwhile, the policy committee has a mountain of work and zero assurance that any of it will matter. Because this board does what it wants, when it wants, and one of the few consequences is us writing about it.

Oh! Speaking of that—shoutout to Curt for the call-out. We’re flattered. Glad you read. Wish you listened.

Let’s be clear: we shine a light on your problems because we believe this district is worth saving. We’re a watchdog site, not a PR arm. If we didn’t think there was something worth protecting, we wouldn’t be working this hard to stop you from ruining it.

So next time you try to gaslight the community, remember: we brought matches

Next time; A dive into MCA scores and how the MAGA 4 finally caught up to what we’ve been saying for years—data doesn’t care about your narrative.  Unless there is something too special to skip in this weeks meeting.... 

If gaslighting were an Olympic sport, Curt would take gold, — and then give a press conference insisting he didn’t really compete. Maybe if he thought like an actual human instead of a Minnesota Parents Alliance–programmed robot — or, wild idea, maybe tried listening — he could skip the endless “what I meant to say” routine. We’re also tired of the ever-present “numerous threats of violence” poor-me saga, now permanently bolted onto the start of every public comment like a bad theme song.

This month’s meeting wasn’t live-streamed, so we had to watch the replay — and here’s a gem from Curt’s view of the listening session:

“We did had have an individual call out uh board member specifically myself on integrity… we are open to having our comments challenged… if we do make mistakes, please point those out to us…”

For a fleeting moment, we thought: Wow, maybe he’s maturing. Expiration time: 7 minutes. That’s when Curt kicked out someone for commentary he didn’t like. So much for “open to being challenged.” and we realized he was cooking with 'gas' this meeting.

Gaslighting highlight of the week: when Haugglund threatened local businesses that disagreed with lifting hate speech prohibitions last meeting, Curt “clarified,” this meeitng with What we meant was… we love businesses that agree with us! Oh, well, that’s totally fine then. "Nailed It"

Runner-up gaslight: Curt still can’t wrap his head around the fact that adding a major punitive policy to the meeting agenda in real time is not the same as quietly tucking a minor employment item into the consent agenda. One is like torching the rulebook; the other is like buying more printer paper. Spot the difference, Curt.  We have a low opinion of your intelligence already, but don't actually think you are that dumb.

And then there’s his favorite fantasy that was repeated yet again: the “many” (imaginary) supporters he swears are out there. In reality, we see the same three people, who rarely speak, quietly holding down his cheer section. Maybe someday the rest of these totally real fans will materialize and actually go on the record. Until then, it’s ghost applause and self-quoted compliments.

So here’s to Curt — may he spend more time learning empathy and less time manufacturing problems. Then again, we also hope for a million dollars… and we’re pretty sure which is more likely.

(P.S., Curt — because we know you’re reading this — integrity means doing the right thing and being truthful, fair, and ethical in all actions . We understand definitions can be tricky.)

Mark your calendars, folks—next week 7/17 brings us a school board work session and an “anti-hate car parade.”

Yes, you read that right. Anti-hate car parade. And no, it’s not about protesting some new vehicle called the “HateCar.” This is a real, actual community event aimed squarely at one particular car—and everything it represents.

Specifically, the General Lee.

Yes, that General Lee. The orange Dodge Charger with the Confederate flag on top, straight out of a 1980s TV show, glorifying the “good old boys” who never meant no harm—unless you count the glorification of white supremacy. A car that absolutely belongs in a museum or on a movie set, not parked proudly outside your child’s school board meeting.

Which would be bad enough... except in our case, it's being driven by the actual chair of our school board. You know, the person currently leading the charge to weaken district policy around hate symbols. Who has cut funding to any inclusive program that whispers it might have something to do with race, identity, or any of that liberal humans are human ideology.

And let’s talk about that Confederate flag for a second. Because if you’re still clinging to the whole “southern heritage” excuse—let’s be really clear about what that “heritage” includes. That flag represents an armed rebellion to preserve the right to own human beings. Romancing an era where people were property doesn’t say “rural charm”—it says “I’m fine with racism if it comes with a good paint job.”

“Heritage not hate?” Look harder. The heritage is hate. That’s the whole point.

So next week, while the board privately tinkers with how much intolerance is the right amount of intolerance, there will be a rolling protest—cars making laps in support of students, inclusion, and basic decency. A car parade against hate, and against hate-symbols-on-wheels (or in any other place in our school).

We’re not the organizers of the parade—but we’re here for it. And we’re amplifying it. Because if the board chair can roll up in the General Lee, the rest of us can show up too—with better taste and better values. Lets make a fleet of Subarus and minivans and circle the block like it's Mario Kart for social justice.

We can't wait to see which moves faster—actual change or the Camry with the rainbow bumper sticker.

Spoiler alert: It’s probably the car.

PS: A lot of folks are waking up. Groups are forming. People are organizing. The board’s behavior is not okay—and people are done pretending it is.

Well. The 6/26 meeting ended with more exhaustion than clarity, and enough audience participation to make Curt visibly sweat. He threatened to shut it all down multiple times over clapping — bless his heart — though we imagine it was the booing and the packed room and lobby that really rattled him.

First the subtle drama you might have missed: Little Power himself, Luke, got fully sidelined. His handful of hot takes and amendments just didn’t make it, one not even past the "can I get a second?" stage. Not one.  Maybe he didn't want to talk to the group because he was too busy looking up stats about flags of countries that had slavery.  Hey, we all have hobbies.  Meanwhile, Tessa and Mark stepped into the spotlight with some bold (and deeply questionable yet expected) amendments and by doing so, they earned the dubious honor of conservative glory — bravely standing up for the "silent majority" of fellow extreme conservatives who are, according to them, totally real despite not writing in, showing up, or doing much of anything besides being vague justifications.

And let’s not forget Curt’s tragic tale of procedural victimhood. He spent a chunk of the meeting explaining how this was all very hard for him, and how people have been so very mean. We do feel bad that someone decided to send a violent threat, that wasn't us, we stick to truth, witty writing, and cartoons - thanks for the shout out!  We also feel bad that there might be some cognitive decline or perhaps an injury, because Curt seemed very confused about where some of the policy lines came from.  First - He was the one who chose to rewrite the original policies and he himself inserted most of the objectionable language, deviating from the model policy because — surprise — he thought he knew better. Now that the backlash has arrived, he’s so confused about why people are upset that after months (years!) of targeting minorities and the LGBTQ+ community that nobody believes this was an innocent "just trying to adopt model policy".  Wasn't he generous by spreading the stink around by letting Tessa and Mark carry the bag? Classic.  Hey Luke, maybe you got lucky being kicked out of the inner circle.

Motion by Tessa Antonsen: Remove limited open forum (student interest) groups from middle school, and

Motion Mark Kasel ; Strike the language banning 3 specific hate symbols.

Yep. That’s where we are. Proactively protecting kids from identity-based hate is too redundant, and the board said middle schoolers are too "immature" for student interest groups but mature enough to navigate school without support from advisors or affinity clubs? Totally fine.  But if we are redundant with anything, it should be protecting kids.

Next, we’d like to gift Mark a dictionary, because he kept talking about “micromanagement” regarding the 3 specfic hate symbols while somehow missing the dozens of actual micromanaging rules baked into the new activities policy — like bullet pointed lists of things required from clubs and administration, and, a mandate to not stray from the topic of a club (I think that might be the most micromanagy)  And not a peep about micromangment proposal #49; take miniutes, and turn them in the next day.... And in 515 there is a detailed description of allowable hoodie depth (the new hemline) But the three called out hate symbols in 515? That’s where he sees micromanagement. Got it.

Honestly, we’re still piecing it all together because in general it was a procedural Bylaw Burrito (stuffed with nonsense and wrapped in confusion)  But here’s what we think happened:

• Open forum clubs for grades 8–12 are back on the menu (after an hour where it sounded like they weren’t).

• Those clubs don’t have to reform yearly, don’t need to keep minutes, and definitely don’t have to turn them in the next morning. (small victory!)

• The revised 515 policy wasn’t passed or rejected — it was punted back to committee with a vague request for an “exhaustive list.” Translation: the current policy still stands.
  
  

So, to recap: Middle schoolers are definately not losing clubs (according to Curt, email him when that isn't true, he loves email as much as he loves double talk and cartoons about himself) Hate symbols almost got a pass. “micromanage” has officially lost all meaning and Curt would very much like you to know this was hard for him. 

Stay tuned — we’ll keep watching, clapping, and keep the cartoons coming

ps.  We made 2 cartoons since you like them so much

Apparently, a quiet week is just too much for Curt to handle. With no public outrage to soak in and no cameras pointed at him, he did what all bored chaos agents do: he stirred the pot. Word on the street — or more accurately, word via the Forest Lake City Council livestream — is that Curt marched himself over to the City Council to whisper about his totally-not-a-surprise plans to amend the dress code during its next reading and, wait for it… bring back hate symbols. Because nothing screams “educational leadership” like peddling divisive nonsense in the middle of summer while most people are trying to touch grass or just enjoy June without having to attend a board meeting.

Yes, really.

Not because anyone asked. Not because there’s a groundswell of public support. But because he wasn’t getting enough attention, and he’s got to do something to make sure he stays the main character.

Meanwhile, the Forest Lake City Council is apparently irritated that when you Google “Forest Lake,” all that comes up is this garbage. (Sorry City Council, take it up with the guy across the street tossing lit matches into a pile of school policy binders.) So, while this delightful little leak didn’t come from Curt himself (he tends to prefer surprise attacks). — this came from the Forest Lake City Council’s livestream, where the mayor seemed less than thrilled that when you Google “Forest Lake,” all the top results are... well, let’s just say not tourism tips or fishing guides.

Now, we don’t personally know the Mayor who dropped this little breadcrumb on the livestream — but sir, if you’re reading this: respect. And thanks for the tip-off and your plan to come over to Curt's meeting and tell him to his face.

So, heads up, folks. This is how they do it: summer, late-month, odd timing, meeting when no one’s looking.  The policy looked ok at first reading...   Suddenly, boom — motion to change - and the policy changes and we’re all left gasping.

Let’s not let them sneak this one past us. Whether you speak or just sit there stone-faced, show up. Because when elected officials start trying to normalize hate under the radar, the very least we can do is flip the lights on. Forest Lake has better things to be known for than this circus and the school board has better things to be doing for kids.  And hate symbols? Still not welcome.

Curt — if attention is what you’re after, congratulations. You’ve got it. Again.

Let’s talk about the May 29 Forest Lake Area School Board meeting — a sprawling five-hour epic of procedural gamesmanship, bureaucratic fan fiction, and performative debate dressed up as thoughtful governance.

And yes, we watched the whole thing. Some of us live, some of us later, from the safety of our couches with YouTube and snacks. Because if we’re going to be ignored, we might as well be comfortable.

The evening kicked off with a surprise: one of the few board members who consistently shows care and competence motioned to move the two hot-topic student policy proposals to the top of the agenda instead of the end of the meeting as the Chair had designed. Finally — a glimmer of responsiveness. The motion passed, so we actually got to see the vote on clubs and the Confederate flag before the descent into policy madness began and our ear-holes started to bleed. 

Our hero board member did try to table a particularly problematic policy removal — one that would leave the district without a backup plan if the controversial Policy 1801 fails. But don’t worry. The chair already knows it won’t fail. It’s all just theater.  That motion failed~

That said, the debate on these two policies was… pure performance. Even with overwhelming community support — petitions, more public comments, more people pleading for the board to just leave student clubs alone — the discussion dragged through a familiar dance of concern-posturing and faux neutrality before ending almost exactly where they started.

Because it was never about new information. It was about optics. About appearing balanced and thoughtful, while the outcome had already been written behind the scenes.  The upside is Policies 515 and 1801, which were only up for first readings, actually did include the community-demanded changes. So for the moment, the pressure seems to have worked. But let’s not get too comfortable. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that the board chair only seems to acknowledge reality when it’s delivered through overwhelming, sustained public pressure — preferably with receipts, petitions, and multiple news reports. 

Moving on...

Minnesota High School League MNHSL - Usually, this kind of membership is routine — filed under “consent agenda,” click, vote, done. But not this time.

The vice chair took this softball and swung for the bleachers of bias, using the opportunity to monologue about his “concern” with “boys playing in girls’ sports.” (Transphobia, but make it folksy.) Then he casually dropped his hope that the state loses a lawsuit defending the current inclusive policy — so, and we quote, “we don’t have to handle it here in the district.”  Let’s repeat that: a sitting board officer publicly hoped the state loses in court so the district can opt out of civil rights protections. He literally said the quiet part out loud. 

Cool. So if the Minnesota Human Rights Act or state constitution upholds something he doesn’t personally agree with, he’s planning to deviate from it? Great to know that personal belief will be the new legal standard in Forest Lake.

And then… the real slog began.

Enter The Great Board Policy Dump of 2025™ — twelve board policies, each more bloated or unnecessary than the last.  Here are just a few of the lowlights:

• Policy 1208 now makes it crystal clear: the policy committee is just there to make it look like there's a process. The board can ignore it entirely. So why even have it? Oh right, optics.

• Policy 1101 (Legal Status and Name) got stretched from half a page to four pages for the noble purpose of saying: let’s all use the district name the same way. Compelling stuff, really.

• Policy 1201 swapped out clear rules like quorum language for vague phrases like “deemed appropriate.” Always comforting when legal standards start sounding like vibes.

• Policy 1202 helpfully removed the clear guidance that the clerk takes over when the chair and vice chair are absent. Who leads then? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But hey, if the clerk doesn’t do something the board votes for, they can be booted. Good to know we’re preparing for coups.

• Policy 1203 gave the board chair exactly what he wanted — full debating rights under Robert’s Rules. Small catch: that’s not how Robert’s Rules work. But if you rewrite the rules about rules using the rules, maybe you win on a technicality?

• Policy 1205 added a provision requiring the Pledge of Allegiance… which is funny, since the board already said the pledge at every meeting without needing a policy. Guess we just needed to make the performance official.

• Policy 1209, the new “Code of Ethics,”. It’s vague, it treads dangerously close to First Amendment rights for speech, and it still reads like a loyalty oath written in a hurry. 

• Policy 1210, conflict of interest, bars board members from participating in sealed bids. Now, this is just a guess — but maybe it’s aimed at a former board member (who didn't run again) known to be in a professional building trade? Can’t say for sure, but … interesting.

• Policy 1211 now includes three paragraphs making sure the board can get legal defense funded by the district — but only if they were acting within the “scope of their delegated authority.” So if you’ve been wondering why so many of these policies quietly expand that authority, now you know.
  
  

• Policy 1214 tackles the burning issue of… out-of-state board travel. Can’t recall a single board member flying anywhere in the past decade, but sure — let’s make it policy just in case someone tries to rack up those frequent flyer miles on the district dime.

Oh yeah — I almost forgot - the board also fully approved a massive boundary change. You’d think something that affects where hundreds of students go to school would be the headline, but in this drama-packed six months, it was practically an afterthought. Why? Because it was done right — with early planning, community input, actual transparency, and a thoughtful, well-executed process. Turns out when you don’t wedge ideology or chaos into the mix, you can just... do your job well. Imagine that. 

By the time the clock ticked past midnight, the room was weary, the policies were passed, and the actual issues — students, equity, transparency — were buried under piles of freshly worded nonsense or on the cutting room floor.  You know, flood the zone playbook or scripted drama, you pick your metaphor. 

But we’re still watching. Whether in person or online, or here, reading the not-so-brief recap because if the only way the board chair will see reason is extreme, relentless, public pressure, then we’ve got time and unlimited YouTube.  And yes — we know. This post is long. But if the board’s going to run a meeting longer than a Peter Jackson film, you’d better believe we’re going to give it the director’s cut in blog form. If you made it to the end of this post, congratulations, more to come because we owe it to our district.

May 15 was one of those rare Forest Lake school board nights where the actual board meeting was short, but the drama — as always — had already clocked in early over at the Policy Committee.

An overflow crowd showed up, hoping to finally hear what Board Chair (and apparent amateur constitutional scholar) Curt Rebelein, Jr. had to say about the long-disputed student activities policy. However, the audience got a bonus act: Curt dramatically unveiled his personal rewrite of Policy 515, also known as the Dress Code. What did he do, you ask?

Oh, just casually remove explicit bans on the Confederate Flag, swastikas, and KKK symbols, citing “freedom of expression.” That’s right: in Curt’s world, the hate symbols that sparked literal wars and genocides are fair game in a public school, until they cause a disruption - reactive instead of proactive policy? Sure, why not. Meanwhile, he rambles on in defense of the policy that your pride pin or BLM shirt - as he said - is offensive to some - why not add them to the list. Because yes, he also claimed Black Lives Matter to be a hate group, and the Pride flag is controversial.  Let’s be honest — when your policy updates sound like a the FL community facebook dumpster fire comments section come to life, maybe it’s time to pass the mic. 

And what came next? A verbal explosion of half-formed thoughts, off-script speculation, and an apparent attempt to confuse everyone in the room about his rational for the rewrite. The result? Students, staff, and parents left with rumors flying, confusion spreading, and growing tension in school buildings. Which is wild, considering Curt is also the one pushing a policy against “disruptions to learning.” You can't make this up.

This bold defense of “expression” might feel slightly less academic coming from a guy who literally drives around town in a replica of the General Lee — yes, the car with the Confederate Flag on top. Maybe Curt thinks if he rewrites policy fast enough, he can park his car in the high school lot as a teaching tool. Spoiler: that flag doesn’t mean what he thinks it means. And in a public school, it shouldn’t be policy.

To make matters worse, this was all crammed into a one-hour committee meeting where multiple policies were rushed through like a bad speed dating session. None got more than ten minutes of airtime, including 1801, which the protesters were there to see.  Speaking of 1801 - his intel on what 'certain clubs' really do comes from a middle school kid who didn't even go to a meeting. So that’s the level of research informing your kids’ educational environment.  I personally expect more, but… well, you know. No drama, no Curt.

We didn’t set out to start a blog. Truly. We have jobs, families, group chats, hobbies, and a burning desire to not spend our free time decoding school board chaos like it’s a full-time job. But eventually, the absurdity reached a point where we either had to start writing it down… or risk a collective brain explosion.

So here we are.

This blog, and site, exists because some things are too important — and too unbelievable — to let slip by. We’ll be documenting what’s happening in and around Forest Lake Area Schools, with a focus on the meetings, policies, and power plays that are shaping what happens in our classrooms, board rooms, and community. You might have missed some of it (some of it was meant to be missed), but we’re going to do our best to fill in the gaps.

There will be a few of us writing here — different voices, same goal: transparency and accountability. We’re figuring this out as we go, including the tech side. We don’t have a comment section (yet?), so if you want to reach out, email us. We’d love to hear from you — especially if you’ve got info, questions, or need help connecting the dots.

We genuinely wish this site weren’t necessary. But since we can’t all be everywhere at once — and since the public should know what’s going on in public schools — here we are, squishing a near full-time job into stolen hours and late-night screen time.

Because our schools belong to us. And we’re paying attention now.

** We will be working on reposting some of what we had in chats, emails, and facebook posts so the order might get screwy as we repost here to make a collective record**