1/22/2024 Regular Meeting

The regular school board meeting began at 5:30pm at the Charles S Crandall Center Chambers. Regular board meetings are recorded and can be viewed from the district website or YouTube: https://www.isd761.org/our-district/school-board/meeting-dates

Mission Moment, as given by Superintendent Elstad, recognized 3 district support staff for dedicated hard work of many years. This was for Gwen Vogt, Curt Matajcek, and David Purdie. Thank you for your service to our schools and students!

No comments for Public Forum.

For the Human Resources update, Chris Picha presented information regarding the partnership between Owatonna Public Schools, Mankato State University (MSU), and Minneapolis Public Schools in effort to encourage education degrees, and retain and recruit teachers. In the last 15 years, close to $8.7 million has been awarded in grant money to growing the teacher profession in Minnesota. Owatonna Public Schools is one of 7 districts in Southern MN that are participating in this program, this grouping of districts forms the MEP. There are three pathways for participants.

1. High school students in grades 10-12: involves the Teachers of Tomorrow program which has 9 components, students work with MSU and a Navigator, visit colleges, attend summer teacher academy, apply for dedicated scholarships
2. District employees and community members with an AA degree: tuition stipend and college choice, work with a Navigator, work with a Mentor Teacher, summer teacher academy at MSU, tutoring and resources available
3. District paraprofessionals or Education Assistants and community members with an AA degree: work through a Teacher Apprenticeship, “on the job training” and pay during participation

There was a lot of information and I understand that all of the pathways encourage students of color to apply, but it is a requirement for one or more of the pathways. Also, the apprenticeship program is only for Special Education teachers. Please clarify these details with Ms. Picha if interested. Each pathway has the potential to lead to a Tier 3 teaching license for which we would love to see our local participants stay and teach in Owatonna. However, this is not a stipulation for the program. Contact Chris Picha or OHS principal Kory Kath for more information. The application deadline is March 10, 2024 as listed in the presentation, but to be safe, I’d apply by March 1, 2024!

No significant changes noted in the Enrollment Report.

Many reports during Board Forum:

1. our student representatives shared information regarding the OHS Magnet print edition release, Mock Trial, Speech meet, Compass, and music ensemble performances
2. In light of November’s World’s Best Workforce (WBWF) presentation, December’s truth in taxation presentation, and the January work session update from Lincoln about Functional Phonics and FastBridge assessments, I shared a graph from an article at the American Experiment. Each member of the board plus our superintendent and the administrative assistant received a copy (of which I asked to be put in the meeting notes and minutes online if possible). The graph shows reading and math proficiency rates plus the dollar amount of per pupil spending each year beginning in 2013 through 2023. Essentially, the graph reveals declining proficiency despite the increased spending in education in Minnesota. As I review all of this information, I asked the board to consider a future discussion on this topic including assessments (are MCA and NWEA tests the best way to assess proficiency and if not, then how can we do it better?) Can we see assessment scores sooner rather than later to see if things are going well or not well so far this year? If we don’t see improvements by next November’s WBWF presentation, then what? How do our teachers feel about all of this? Are they struggling or are things going well? How can we make OPS the best district in Minnesota? 
3. Facilities committee report: ongoing punchlist items being done at OHS plus ongoing work in the old OHS building where the new district offices will be, and prep for final demolition of the old buildings.
4. Coffee with the Superintendent at the district office on Bridge Street, 8:30am Friday January 26, 2024. Anyone can come!
5. Policy committee report: NEW policy has been created by the committee regarding Library Materials. This is given to the board to review and will come back to the board for a second reading and approval next month. Consider contacting our policy committee members if you have suggestions for this policy (Lori Weisenburger, Jolayne Mohs, Tim Jensen). Updated policy for graduation requirements based on the MN Legislature this year is also reviewed for a first reading.

Superintendent Elstad gave a brief Administrative Report highlighting meetings with area legislators to discuss recent state mandates. There will be a school calendar revision coming soon to accommodate staff training. Also, ongoing work is being done for the elementary school attendance boundary lines. The first Input Team meeting was 1/23/2024 and the next will be 2/20/2024, 6-8pm at Owatonna Middle School. This is open to the public for observation only.

The consent agenda is approved covering previous meeting minutes, the disbursement report and personnel report.

Board approval was given to add Nicole Schulz to the Board of Directors of the ISD 761 Foundation. Mr. Sebring noted that there are vacancies on the board of directors for this foundation. Also approved were Gifts to the District. Notably, about $170,000 has been given from the ISD 761 Foundation and Mr. Voss donated $1500 for a bench in memory of his wife Cindy Voss who was a district employee and passed away recently. Thank you.

Meeting adjourned. I’m hoping to attend Friday’s Coffee with the SI, see you there!