6/10/2024 Work Session

The Commencement Ceremony was held for our 2024 graduates at the new Federated Stadium on June 7, 2024. Congratulations graduates!!!

Our work session began at 5:30pm at the chamber office. The first presentation was given by SiteLogIQ who the district has hired to assess the structural safety and working order of our district buildings and equipment. The assessment information is used to determine current needs, but also to determine future needs and long-term planning. This will aid in budgeting our Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Fund (LTFM). The presenter commented that overall our buildings are in “fantastic shape.” However, the ventilation assessments for McKinley and the Owatonna Education Center are showing high priority for needing updates (original equipment is from the 1980s). Our district will have its own MySiteIQ website to help track facility needs over many years to come. This presentation can be found on the district website and includes a chart showing the 10-year LTMF plan as given by SiteLogIQ: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1055?meeting=639589

Secondly, we heard a presentation from Ehlers Public Finance Advisors. My understanding of this information is currently rudimentary so I will be studying this in the next few weeks before the next board meeting. The presentation can be view through the district website using the link above. The take-away message from this information is that if we take advantage of a School Building Bond Ag Credit, to help pay for the updated HVAC systems needed, most homeowners in Owatonna will note a decrease in taxes. Others (commercial/industrial and agricultural homestead/non-homestead) will notice a slight increase (however the increase is lower than if the Bond Ag Credit is not used).

At the next regular board meeting on June 24th, the board will vote to approve the scope of the HVAC project (SiteLogIQ) and then the July 15th board meeting will likely include a vote to authorize the issuance of bonds. Questions are encouraged between now and then.

Lori Volz, finance director, then presented an overview of the Preliminary Budget for school year 2024-2025. She noted some highlights including the end of ESSR funds (covid funds given to schools). The general education fund formula was increased 4% by the recent legislation, but next year will only be 2%. The district will receive some funding to support all the new mandates for The READ Act but not as much as will be needed. Also noted are the pool project updates that have been delayed at this time due to the higher costs required for this. The end result as noted by Ms. Volz, is a 2.5 million dollar deficit that can be partially mitigated by spending down the Unassigned Fund Balance. This can be managed over the coming year, however further analysis will need to be done for future school years.

The Library Resource Reconsideration Form was brought back to the policy committee for review and now to the board to review and discuss. Along with Superintendent Elstad, the policy committee elected to remove the paragraph in the form which lists the estimated cost of the reconsideration process. They have also elected to remove the form from the Library Policy for the reason being that the form is determined to be managerial and not part of policy. The reconsideration form will only be used if the informal discussion of a library material requires further appeal. There was no further discussion on this matter.

Superintendent Elstad noted brief legislative decisions coming in the future including a re-evaluation of the library policy, the introduction of a new cell phone policy, and curriculum changes.

November 2024 brings a BIG election, including 3 school board seats! The filing period for becoming a school board candidate is July 30 – August 13, 2024. Pick up the form at the district office and pay a $2 filing fee. Check out the website: https://www.isd761.org/our-district/school-board/election-information and contact me for more information!

Soli Deo Gloria.