Immediately following the school board retreat, we started our usual work session, still located at the new district office building, 333 E. School Street. Since we began the retreat 2.5 hours earlier with the pledge of allegiance, we did not repeat it at this time.
Chair Sebring began the session with the summary results of Superintendent Elstad’s annual evaluation. The questions on the evaluation were divided into 4 categories which are the district’s strategic directions:
- 21st Century Learners–effective communication and engagement with community partners, while continuing to work on communication with students and parents.
- Equity–strives toward Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner. Every Day. Continue to work on public communication.
- High Quality Teaching and Learning–high quality administrative staff with the vision to recruit and retain high quality teaching staff with ongoing work to ensure adequate funding for staff professional development.
- Safe and Caring Community–maintains visibility and presence in all schools, while continuing to use survey data to ensure safe schools.
The Transportation Safety Advisory Committee has met once already and will plan to meet about 4 times yearly. Due to student safety concerns at a few busy intersections, the district has posted 2 positions for adult crossing guards. Two intersections will have the adult guards present for just one hour in the mornings and one hour in the afternoons, Monday through Friday, each day that school is in session. This position will be funded by money from our Safe Schools levy. Elstad noted that he did contact law enforcement, but they were unable to assist the district with this need.
During board forum, I brought attention to a newspaper article I found in a stack of old papers while doing work on a craft project with children at Cedar Kids daycare. The article was dated 6/14/2017 and covered a school board work session at which the board reviewed goals for the new Superintendent Jeff Elstad!
Elstad noted that in November, we will have another retreat for a data review of the district which will hopefully assist us in determining how effective our policies are and if there are any changes needed to the budget, etc. In the fall, the district will give the Desired Daily Experiences survey to parents, students, and teachers, and in addition, will have more complete academic achievement data. November is also when we have heard the World’s Best Workforce annual presentation in the past. The presentation will occur in November again but under a new name: Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (CACR). November 5, 2024 is election day and November 12, 2024 will be the work session which is on a Tuesday instead of the usual Monday.
Elstad also commended his talented leadership team and noted that Chris Picha, our director of Human Resources, and Sarah Knudson, our director of Special Services, successfully launched the first teacher apprenticeship last week.
Chair Sebring noted that all board members will be receiving a book that comes highly recommended by Superintendent Elstad called The Anxious Generation.
This fall we will have 3 new principals. Cassie Mitchell comes from experience in Lakeville and Minneapolis to work at Wilson Elementary School. Justin Lange will be our new Lincoln principal, and Dr. Martina Wagner returns to Owatonna Public Schools from Red Wing to principal the ALC.
The first day of school for Owatonna students will be the week of September 3, 2024 but the date varies depending on the school. Please check the district website for information and complete the annual family update.
This has been a busy week!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools 