Highlights from our regular meeting…also note that because of the tornado warning, everyone in attendance had to step down into the basement from 5:42pm until 6pm. Incoming Superintendent, Dr. Champa, was also in attendance with us. She has been communicating regularly with Superintendent Elstad and is planning to attend our meetings as much as possible. After June 30th, Mr. Elstad will be stepping into retirement and Dr. Champa will officially be working as our Superintendent.
- Committee Reports: finance, facilities, policy
- Administrative Report: new cell phone guidelines coming
- Votes: farm lease agreement, health insurance renewal, policies, trip requests
The finance committee has not met since the last school board meeting, but as discussed in the last post, Morris Leatherman is completing a community survey for us. Our next finance committee meeting is scheduled for 5/12/2025 at which time the committee should receive the survey results. Then, the survey summary report will be given at the next work session meeting on Thursday 5/15/2025.
The facilities committee met and relayed that there have been no offers to purchase the district’s Bridge Street building. The pool update project is underway at the middle school as expected.
The policy committee continues to meet once monthly and presented policies for first reading (412 Expense Reimbursement) and others for a second reading and approval (413, 512, 524, 620, 701, 721, plus 210 and 610 for review only). There were no major changes and no questions or discussion regarding the approval of these policies.
Superintendent Elstad gave a few updates including recognition of the executive cabinet for Mission Moment. The cabinet includes our directors of Teaching and Learning, Human Resources, Finance, Special Services, Community Education, and Facilities. Thank you, directors, for the hard work and support that you give to the district and ultimately to our teachers and students.
Also, in the Administrative Report, Mr. Elstad noted that he continues to monitor the legislative decisions which are expected to be finalized in 2 weeks. He notes that there will be an upcoming requirement for a cell phone policy for all schools (current policy is nonspecific and cell phone use is outlined in student handbooks only). Elstad will discuss possible upcoming changes and further limitations in cell phone use with OHS principal Kory Kath.
The administrative report notes that work is being done to replace Dr. Sarah Knudsen in her role as our director of special services (special education) since her resignation last month. We wish you the best in your next endeavor Dr. Knudsen!
Ayoub Farah, our Junior Student School Board Member, is recognized for his recent achievement of being named State Champion in the Discussion category of the State Speech Meet last weekend. Great work Ayoub!!
Votes taken tonight, all passed 7-0.
- Policy review and revisions as noted above
- Superintendent Elstad approved as the Identified Official with Authority to authorize user access to the MN Dept of Education secure websites.
- Farm lease agreement for 35 acres of land currently utilized by OHS students and the FFA allowing students to participate in all areas of farming.
- Approval of the district’s self-insured health insurance plan renewal. With increased insurance use in the past year, the district needs to increase premiums by 9% for the upcoming year. Finance director Mark Stotts notes that last year’s increase was only 3% which is much lower than normal, and that other districts are increasing by 10+%. So while the increase is not ideal, it seems that OPS is still doing better than other districts. Working in medicine for 23 years and also using the medical system (for myself and my family), I realize that health costs are very expensive, and these increases are difficult and frustrating.
- Extended trip requests are approved for a STEM science trip to Iceland in 8/2026 and a Marching Band trip to Colorado in 7/2025.
- Gifts to the district are approved. Thank you to so many generous donors over the last year.
REMINDER: next school board work session is THURSDAY May 15, 2025, 5:30pm, at the district office.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools 