Our regular school board meeting began at 5:30 in the City Chamber board room as per usual. The board Chair, Mr. Sebring, added to the agenda under heading X. Items with board action requested; E. Achievement and Integration Grant due by 4/1/2024. Gifts to the district was retitled as F. The agenda was then approved.
Superintendent Elstad moved on to Mission Moment, recognizing Sean Hughes and Jeff Williams. Mr. Hughes is the district’s facility use specialist and OMS activity coordinator and works hard to keep things running and functioning and organized. Coach Williams is recognized as a favorite teacher at OHS and also congratulated for his entry into the MN Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, having 207 game victories and the most wins in coaching history. Thank you Mr. Hughes and Coach Williams for your dedication and hard work.
No comments for Public Forum.
Lori Volz, our Director of Finance and Operations, along with the district’s controller, Sarah Cramblit, presented the amended budget for 2023-2024. The budget can be reviewed through the attachment on the agenda: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1055?meeting=625296. The amended budget is based on actual numbers of employees hired vs. estimated numbers from the previous budget, plus the final settlements with bargaining units. The amended budget also includes increased enrollment numbers, interest earnings, increased special education funding, unemployment and utility costs, among many other adjustments. The finance team worked hard to find the maximum amount of grant money and funding streams possible. Lori Volz commented that this year’s budget was the most complex that she’s ever had to work with. The bottom line, according to Ms. Volz, is that the budget is sitting in a good place and the unassigned fund balance remains at 12.4%. The recommended unassigned fund balance is 8-10% and anything higher than that is better. While many districts in Minnesota are struggling, OPS is doing well, in part, because we were careful with the additional COVID funding received over the last few years. Therefore, as this funding now goes away, we do not have budget cuts.
No major changes or discussion regarding the Enrollment Report.
A brief note by board members during Board Forum to report that both the facility and finance committees met last week, and the policy committee will meet this week. Since I wasn’t able to attend the finance committee meeting, I met personally with Lori Volz and Sarah Cramblit to review the amended budget at a separate time.
Superintendent Elstad gave the Administrative Report. He noted that they will soon be creating a transportation safety committee with about 10-12 members. Governor Walz will be giving the State of the State address at the Owatonna High School Wenger Performing Arts Auditorium on March 26, 2024. This will only be the 12th time in Minnesota history that the address has been given outside of the state capitol. Timothy Massawe will be attending our work session in April as a thank you for the donations to Tanzania. For a legislative update, Mr. Elstad noted that the SRO bill was signed and gives more clarity for all school officers so they can do the work needed and keep the schools safer. Lastly, Mr. Elstad announced that the district has hired 2 new principals. As of July 1, 2024, Justin Lang will be the Lincoln School principal and Martina Wagner will be the principal of the ALC.
The consent agenda was approved including previous school board meeting minutes and the personnel report.
Finally, the board voted and approved 6 items:
- 2023-2024 Amended Budget as presented earlier in the meeting.
- Resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of the teaching contract of probationary teachers. The letter is an annual review, plus a review of attachment A given at the meeting, which lists the staff/teachers affected this year. My additional commentary: I find it interesting that this letter states that the school board resolves to terminate the employment contract and that the receiver may request from the school board reasons for non-renewal of the contract. However, I am given only names of those staff whose contracts are terminated on the night of this meeting with no discussion or explanation for why we are approving termination. Management or governance? Seems more of a management decision to me… but it’s statute, so that’s the way it is. I’m sorry if I voted yes on this and hurt anyone in the process simply because I do not know anything about these terminations and I have no explanation for why they occurred. I’m often reminded that school boards are for governance… well, except when the state statutes tell us we have to manage.
- Attendance boundaries model 2C-AB-2-1 including implementation for the 2024-2025 school year, with the following 3 exceptions: Setting III Special Education, Families In Transition (homelessness), and incoming fifth graders that do not have younger siblings.
- 2025-2026 School Year Calendar, noting that Homecoming for the fall 2025 has not been scheduled yet as the football schedule has not been determined.
- Achievement and Integration Grant which covers the Rising Scholars program, REACH program, Success Coaches, and oversight administration, with no significant changes.
- Gifts to the district including a variety of funding for music, sports, school trips and school events. Thank you Owatonna community for your ongoing generosity for our kids!
Students spring break begins March 22, 2024 and ends March 31, 2024.
Coffee and Conversation with the Superintendent April 5, 2024, 8:30-9:30am, at the district office on Bridge Street. Anyone can attend!
Good Friday March 29,2024 and Resurrection Sunday March 31, 2024, Jesus Is Alive!
Take care friends. Soli Deo Gloria.
Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools 