Our work sessions are now held at the District Office on School Street; therefore, the Special Meeting was also held there just prior to our work session. The Special Meeting was held to approve the previously discussed pool remodel project. This project has been delayed due to much higher-than-expected project bids in the past. The project is now covered by the new bond and work will begin after draining the water at the end of the month. The project was approved for a total cost of $1,157,410, with a completion date of mid-August 2025. Our facilities director, Bob Olson, can answer any question or concerns you may have.
HIGHLIGHTS for the work session:
Washington Elementary report
Lincoln Elementary report
Amended 2024-2025 Budget review and introductions with our new Finance Director
SAFF legislative work – Superintendent Elstad to testify at the Capitol 3/11/2025
Superintendent search update – 24 candidates!
The agenda and attachments for the work session can be found on the district website: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1055?meeting=678984
Principal Libby Zeman presented with a few school staff, the Washington school report focusing on student voice, student leadership, and instruction/collaboration. Principal Justin Lang presented with a few school staff, the Lincoln school report focusing on connections, culture, and core. Similarities are noted between both school in their work toward helping students connect and develop relationships to engage them in learning. They have school counselors doing work with each classroom to improve social emotional learning. Teachers are working hard with the new phonics curriculum and are seeing great improvements in reading already when comparing assessment data.
The amended budget has several changes from the preliminary budget, but ultimately has not significantly changed the bottom line or the unassigned fund balance at 12.25% (goal 8-10%). In summary, the district is deficit spending (~ 2.4 million) this year and is preparing to make cuts for the 2025-2026 school year. Of note, our state aid for special education has just been reduced about $500,000 due to a new pro-rated amount set by legislature.
Welcome Mark Stotts, our new Director of Finance and Operations. He has worked with school districts in Albert Lea, Austin, Burnsville, and most recently Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan.
Superintendent Elstad has been working with SAFF, Schools Advocating for Fair Funding, and testifying at the Capitol regarding the equalization aid given to schools. Because Owatonna’s Referendum Market Value (market value of all properties) is higher (due to more industry and less homes), taxpayers in Owatonna pay more for the same levy amount compared to other districts in Minnesota. The equalization aid is given to school districts to help balance the funding and lessen the burden for taxpayers. For example, Owatonna taxpayers will pay $1408/student, while in Eden Prairie, the cost to taxpayers is $338/student, for the same levy amount. Mr. Elstad is working to improve this for us! The website https://saffmn.org/resources/comparison-data/ and a comparison chart with Owatonna http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://saffmn.org/wp-content/uploads/WDYL-Owatonna.pdf provide more details.
Each school board member spent time at the district office over the last week to review all 24 applications for our Superintendent position. Chris Picha, our director of human resources has been assisting in the process, preparing copies of applications, completing phone screening interviews, and gathering interview questions for board members to review. Schedules are being prepared for the upcoming interviews, which are open to the public. After reviewing all the ratings and comments for each candidate, Ms. Picha created a top 6 list of candidates. We took an informal vote regarding the top 6 and created our “Top 5” list of candidates that will be scheduled for initial interviews. The first interview will be this Friday, 3/14/2025! Check out the schedule on the district website for updates: https://www.isd761.org/our-district/school-board/superintendentsearch
Thank you everyone. Soli Deo Gloria!
Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools 