8/26/2024 Regular Meeting

Our regular meeting began on time at 5:30pm at the City Chambers boardroom. After the Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the agenda, Superintendent Elstad began with Mission Moment. He recognized the beginning of our teacher apprenticeship program with 6 participants who will become special education teachers through this program. Each participant will rotate through an elementary school, our middle school and the high school. Elstad commended Chris Picha for many hours spent developing this program, with assistance by Sarah Knudsen. This is a great program for our students, participants and schools.

No comments for Public Forum.

The enrollment report is reviewed for the coming year. We have Washington Elementary’s Kindergarten average class size (22.33) that is 3+ students more than the school board’s recommended class size of 19 for kindergarten. In the current report, we have eight class sizes (averages for the class and school) that are above the recommended class size, but not at the flagged 3+ number. The enrollment report can be viewed through the district website, school board meeting agenda and attachments. Hopefully, as the next few years move forward and the recent predicted enrollments (estimated through the boundary redesign teams) become a reality, the administration will balance out these numbers that are still not at goal.

During Board Forum, Chair Sebring made note that our October work session will be moved to Tuesday, October 15th at the district office, instead of the usual Monday schedule. He also reviewed the Superintendent Evaluation summary and read the summary points aloud, which I summarized in a recent blogpost. No further comments from board members are given at this meeting.

No updates from the facilities committee. The policy committee members Tim Jensen and Jolayne Mohs note that the policy updates for review at this meeting mainly reflect the many legislative changes from the last year. We have 13 policies on our agenda to review for a “first reading.” Given the history of previous policy reviews (each policy should be reviewed every 3 years, unless legislative changes require immediate updates), I asked if we could limit the number of policies to review for one meeting. The board receives the meeting agendas and attachments on the Thursday before each Monday meeting. This makes it challenging when there are 13+ policies and multiple pages in each policy. However, Mrs. Mohs noted that the policy committee reviews policies as they are presented to them, and the process makes this unpredictable for all of us. Mr. Jensen noted that the changes to each policy are noted by the words/phrases crossed out and the new language listed. However, rather than just review the changes in these policies, I’d like to review the whole policy to determine if it’s written to support how we desire Owatonna schools to function best for our students at this time.

Policies presented to the board for a “first reading” and discussion include: 421 Gifts to the District, 506 Student Discipline, 507 Corporal Punishment and Prone Restraint, 509 Enrollment of Nonresident Students, 513 Student Promotion Retention and Program Design, 524 Electronic Technologies Policy, 533 Wellness, 616 School District System Accountability, 703 Annual Audit, 750 Post-Issuance Debt Compliance, 802 Disposition of Obsolete Equipment and Material, 809 Naming Rights, 904 Distribution of Materials on School District Property by Nonschool Persons.

I asked about policy 616 based on great questions I received from an Owatonna resident and parent. These questions involve concerns about the policy 616 changes in how our curriculum is developed and yearly progress is reported (November will bring a school board retreat for district data review in addition to the annual Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness presentation–previously this was called the World’s Best Workforce). Another question focused on the District Curriculum Advisory Committee and how members are chosen (by application, and the chosen members will follow the policy guidelines when feasible–per Elstad). Also, one of the changes in policy 616 notes that the advisory committee will make recommendations to administration and no longer to the school board. I questioned this because MN Statute states that the Duties of the Board include: to superintend and manage the schools of the district. If the school board is ultimately accountable for the outcomes of the district (our children’s academic ability to be “college, career, and life ready” at graduation), then it is important for us to be aware of what our curriculum process involves and how it is changing to improve our outcome data. I ended the subject discussion by  stating that it seems to me that there is a gap in what information presented to the board and the public about the curriculum decisions, development, and associated outcome data. Despite 2 of our board members being on the curriculum advisory committee as Elstad pointed out at the meeting, there are still a lot of questions as evidenced by the questions I have, but also those that I received by other parents regarding policy 616.

Elstad has stated in other meetings with me that we can’t assume motive in others when we disagree or question something or someone. In essence, we need to keep an open mind and ask questions before making assumptions, passing judgement or having negative opinions. During this meeting, know that I heard the huff and expletive coming from someone attending the meeting. Know that I understand my questions seem very annoying to some people present at the meetings. However, please don’t assume my motive is negative. I seek to understand a process that I don’t understand. We need to be able to ask questions, without judgement or assumed motive, when we need more information, don’t understand something, or just have a concern.

Superintendent Elstad also gave an Administrative Report including important dates for the beginning of this school year. He noted that there are 8 candidates for 3 school board seats in the upcoming November election. There will be one candidate forum at the Country Club and possibly another, soon to be announced.

The board approved, in consent agenda, minutes from the July 15, 2024 meeting, the disbursement report, and the personnel report.

Separate votes were taken, all passed 6-0 including:

1. Extended trip request for the Owatonna FFA to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October.
2. The Truth in Taxation hearing scheduled for December 9, 2024 at 6pm with formal approval of the tax levy.
3. Adult breakfast price increase of $0.15, bringing the cost to $2.40. Adult lunch price will remain the same. Students will still receive free breakfast and lunch for the second year since passed by legislation.
4. Gifts to the District: many generous community donors gave money for Owatonna’s Football Homecoming which will take place on October 4, 2024. Also noted is the donation of 700+ backpacks from CostCo. Thank you!

Meeting adjourned.

Enjoy the smiles, new crayons, and exciting moments in the weeks to come that occur with the beginning of a new school year!

Soli Deo Gloria!