Our last school board meeting of 2024 was held with all 7 board members present, this being the last regular meeting for Eric Schuster and Deborah Bandel. Eric served 12 years and Deborah 4 years on the school board. Recognition and words of thanks were given. Thank you, Eric and Deborah, for your service!
This meeting’s agenda summary: mission moment, public forum, annual audit presentation, truth in taxation presentation, reports (enrollment, committee meetings, administrative report from Superintendent Elstad), approval of the consent agenda (previous meeting minutes, personnel report), board votes including the audit, tax levy certification, Bridge Street property realtor, gifts to the district, and lastly policy revisions including policy 522 Title IX Sex Nondiscrimination.
Owatonna Public Schools’ Activities Director, Marc Achterkirch, was recognized for Mission Moment. Mr. Achterkirch taught math for many years and then in 2018, took the position as activities director. Elstad commended the outstanding work that he’s done for our schools and students, being recognized as the Region 1AA Activities Director of the year. Mr. Achterkirch noted that one of the highlights with this role has been hosting the adaptive floor hockey event, stating that it exemplifies Owatonna and demonstrates how “special and unique” Owatonna is. This role allows him to work with many other schools and districts and he credits Owatonna for providing above and beyond what many other schools have. He also recognized the many other staff that have helped him in his work, specifically his assistant Nancy Benson. Thank you!
No public forum comments.
The annual audit report was given by Mary Reedy, CPA, CGFM, from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP for school year ending June 30, 2024. Essentially, OPS is given a “clean” audit opinion with no compliance issues and no material weaknesses. In summary, the 2023-2024 enrollment ended with an estimated average daily membership (ADM) of 4877.79 students, which is up from 2022-2023 at 4825.69. OPS district’s total ending unassigned fund balance increased to $11,134,033.00, which is 14.81% of the general fund expenditures. Goal is to keep the unassigned fund balance 8-10%. The report notes, “A district’s fund balance is an important aspect in considering the district’s financial well-being…The district has continued to do a good job of financial planning…” However, Mary noted that while our ADM has remained consistent over the past 5 years, and actually increased by 1.07% last year, our expenditures increased by 12.29%. The increase in expenditures is widespread over many categories, but is primarily due to increased salaries/benefits and purchased services (which is typical for school districts). Administrative expenditures are down from 2.7% to 2.5% of the total. A summary of this report can be viewed from the agenda posted for this meeting on the district website. The audit was formally approved by the board in a 7-0 vote.
Lori Volz, our director of finance and operations, presented the Truth in Taxation report which can also be viewed from the agenda as noted above. Ms. Volz noted that state funding has continued to lag behind the general inflation rate since 2003. Special Education expenses, specifically, have consistently been underfunded by the state. School district funding is highly regulated and required to be divided into 6 separate funds: general, food service, community service, building construction, debt service, and internal service. A chart was reviewed showing 2023-2024 beginning fund balances, revenues, expenditures and final fund balances at 6/30/2024, then a future projected 2024-2025 budget including revenues, expenditures and projected fund balances for 6/30/2025. Basically, our district’s fund balance is estimated to decrease from $33.1 million in June 2024 to $24 million in June 2025. To aid the district in funding, our district’s proposed tax levy payable 2025 is an increase of 5%. A detailed chart and explanation of the changes were discussed, and slides can be reviewed as noted above. The tax levy was formally approved in a 7-0 vote.
No significant changes in the enrollment report and no discussion regarding the consent agenda.
One of our student school board representatives, Ayoub Farah, gave a report regarding concerns and comments from student groups at the middle and high schools. Our student representatives will continue to discuss various topics with students and present information to the board for discussion and review. Ayoub was recognized and commended for being nominated for the Excel Award. Great work Ayoub! During the Admin Report, SI Elstad also recognized Lori Volz for her hard work and service as our director of finance and operations, with her last day of employment being 12/13/2024. Best wishes and thank you Lori! We also have a new finance Controller who recently began working at OPS, welcome Linda Guenther!
For 2024, OPS was the campaign leader for the United Way of Steele County, raising just over $19,000, which exceeded the goal of $15,000. SI Elstad commented how Owatonna has again shown its generosity and support for others, in addition to the “Gifts to the District” that were also approved at the meeting.
The Facilities Committee reported on 2 proposals from real estate companies that were received by the district to assist with selling our property at 515 West Bridge Street. They recommended Hamilton Real Estate Group, and this was approved in a 7-0 vote.
Lastly, several policies were presented for a second reading and approval by the board. The policy committee also discussed policy 903 based on public forum comments made at the last meeting by concerned parents of a special education student. The committee determined that the policy is best practice as it is currently written and will not recommend any changes at this time. Most of the policies presented for approval needed basic updated definitions and minimal changes based on updated statutes. These included policies 102, 104, 207, 413, 414, 415, 416, 419, which were approved by vote 7-0. However, policy 522 was completely rewritten and based off the model policy written by the Minnesota School Board Association. This policy titled Title IX Sex Nondiscrimination has 2 attachments: Title IX Complaint Form 2024 and Title IX Grievance Procedures 2024. I asked for this policy to be removed from the grouping as a separate vote. I have concerns that this policy as it currently states, does not allow for the protection of all students. This concern stems from section I. under the General Statement of Policy which states, “In the limited circumstances in which Title IX or its regulations permits different treatment or separation on the basis of sex, the school district must not carry out such different treatment or separation in a manner that discriminates on the basis of sex by subjecting a person to more than de minimus harm, except as permitted by 20 United States Code, section 1681(a)(1) through (9) and the corresponding regulation… Adopting a policy or engaging in a practice that prevents a person from participating in an education program or activity consistent with the person’s gender identity subjects a person to more than de minimus harm on the basis of sex.”
Recently, I requested the policy committee consider adding a statement to this policy which I feel establishes a foundation for better protection of all students (considering physical safety of biological males and females playing sports together, considering physical/mental/emotional safety for students in sensitive areas – females using male locker rooms or males using female locker rooms). The benefits of allowing these actions are speculative and have been harmful in previous instances around the country. My recommendation was the addition of, “When making decisions regarding student participation in a given activity or sport, considerations will be made for the physical, mental, and emotional safety of all students in effort to prevent subjecting any student to more than de minimus harm. This consideration includes practice and participation in activities and/or sports, and the use of facilities typically divided for biological male and biological female use.” However, the policy committee felt that this was too dangerous to state and could cause legal problems in the future. Therefore I could not vote for this policy. Policy 522 was approved by 5-2 vote, with Deborah and myself voting nay.
December 2-6, 2024 our schools celebrated Inclusive Schools Week with various activities. Ask your students about what they did and learned (I only knew of this from my son’s teacher last week.)
Coffee with the Superintendent: Thursday December 12, 2024, 8:30am, district office
Links to other helpful information:
CACR presentation: https://www.isd761.org/district-services/teaching-learning/cacr
DDE survey results: https://sites.google.com/isd761.org/dde-survey-reports-public/home
Board meeting videos: https://www.youtube.com/@owatonnapublicschools/videos
United States Department of Education Student Privacy Policy Office: https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/sites/default/files/resource_document/file/A%20parent%20guide%20to%20ferpa_508.pdf
Merry Christmas! I pray that you take time to enjoy the moments and smiles, and look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
Soli Deo Gloria!
Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools 