Our meeting began at 5:30pm with a Special Session in order to approve the personnel report. With summer approaching, there are several position changes that needed to be approved.
Immediately following the quick Special Session, the work session began. OMS principal, Mrs. Mattson, presented an update regarding our middle school. First, some interesting statistics: 987 students, 23% are receiving special services (IEP or 504 plan), and 7.3% receive English Learning services. The school has approximately 113 staff including 66 full time teachers, 34 support staff, the remaining staff consists of counselors, social workers, and administration. She reported on highlights of the year including building trust, growth in academics and social/behavior skills, and the school’s Best Buddies and Unified PE programs that have been successful. They continue to work on reading interventions, READ Act training, and improving school climate and culture (including de-escalation and restorative practices). Upcoming changes include the SOAR program so that it is focused on academics for everyone instead of for only those students that need catch up time or help with schoolwork. They are looking to find root causes of absenteeism and finding ways to increase parent involvement.
Mrs. Mattson further discussed her research on the importance of creative play for students. While teaching in Norway, she experienced and observed, with her students, the benefits of creative play. All Norway students through 8th grade have one hour of mandatory play outdoors every day, dressing appropriately for any type of weather condition. She commented that our children today are often tied to screens (phones, video games, social media) and are attending many scheduled activities and sports. This leaves little time for creative play which is having a negative impact on behaviors and learning. There may be more time for creative play in the students’ future!
Next on the agenda was the review of the 3-year governance work plan, focusing on finishing up the 2023-2024 school year. No significant changes were made, but in reviewing the section on district policy, I asked the board to consider how we determine policy effectiveness. We receive the World’s Best Workforce presentation every November by our director of teaching and learning, but we have several other policies not related directly to academics (discipline, attendance, dress codes, electronic use, etc.) Superintendent Elstad noted that he is working with our data specialist, Ken Griswold, to form a composite data sheet with several different measures. This could possibly be included on the agenda of our summer board retreat, but Elstad noted that we’d have more accurate and updated data once the next school year begins (after 10/1 2024). No significant changes were made to the governance plan and the plan can be viewed as an attachment to the agenda on the district website under “school board meetings.”
Superintendent Elstad gave the quarterly action items update. He notes that the cybersecurity system is now in place and they continue to work on the family reunification plan should students have to be evacuated from any school building. The elementary school boundaries project is completed and the elementary schools recently had open house events to welcome students that are changing schools this fall. Ongoing work is being done for the Grow Your Own teacher programs.
Board forum began with an update from our student rep, noting that the Thriving Minds sponsored suicide prevention fundraiser in memorial of Dylan Lauwers will occur on 5/19/2024: https://www.southernminn.com/owatonna_peoples_press/community/owatonna-thriving-minds-organizes-dylan-lauwers-memorial-walk/article_44f8ead8-0eff-11ef-a155-5fce7b3d3a90.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1JNqFO30btJeM195Q_2nqxAc0P3Xf3bAgvmuDi-BySK3LMcKoVdOG4JoE_aem_AZOml54Gd2u0Mc_rhOWgXMF-IsguB7VSYD39UzcPzx60K2fJYavvBfPQN5mEkkN9toHcrxyMfnK66AmKUySgVAoH
Superintendent Elstad gave a brief legislative update noting that there may be a small amount of funding in upcoming legislation to assist in providing for the READ Act requirements. There is consideration for a civics requirement change and for a policy limiting cell phones for students (data is accumulating showing the significant negative impact on students’ overall health and wellness with increased cell phone use.) To assist with long term facilities maintenance, the district hired SiteLogIQ to evaluate and give guidelines for our buildings’ maintenance and overall upkeep. Lastly, he notes that they have been looking at research regarding a 4-day school week. He states that because of the high stress workloads that students endure, there are noted benefits, and some districts have already made this change. My thoughts…consider keeping the 5-day school week but include one hour of time for creativity or mandatory play outside as they do in Norway… or consider limiting students’ activities/sports involvement. Some of our students are participating in 5++ extracurricular activities. I’d love to see more time and space for schoolwork and learning, more time for creativity, less screen/phone time, with participation in SOME sports and activities.
A plan is in motion to schedule an August board retreat and also a fall retreat to review the data composite sheet noted above.
Coffee with the Superintendent is open to the public on Friday 5/17/2024 at 8:30am in the district office on Bridge Street.
Next board meeting is TUESDAY MAY 28, 2024 at the district office on Bridge Street.
Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools 