8/11/2025 Special & Work Sessions

We began with a brief Special Session to approve the most recent personnel report and immediately followed with the work session.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Rose street proposal recap

Superintendent Champa: back to school and levy updates

Two city/chamber representatives returned to the board to informally recap and answer questions in follow up to the formal presentation given recently proposing the Rose Street Shops project. The Rose Street project is modeled after the boardwalk shops in Batavia, IL (https://downtownbatavia.com/business_category/boardwalk-shops/). With this project, the city will lease the school district’s Rose Street building for a coworking space and Maker Space for the entrepreneurs renting a small shop. This building also houses the restrooms. Our students will be building the shops. Superintendent Champa has been working to develop a lease contract and has a draft for the board to review. The project is essentially no cost to the district and as Chair Sebring noted, this is a great opportunity for the district to partner with the city and community for the goal of collaboration, growing our downtown, and encouraging small business owners and entrepreneurs. Moving forward, the lease contract will be finalized, and the board will be presented with the proposal for final approval at the next regular meeting.

Superintendent Champa discussed a few of the preparations and staff retreats underway prior to the start of school. The District Leadership Team Retreat is one that was held recently and appeared to be a success for learning more about our new superintendent, and also developing goals and plans for the school year.

Our pool project is unfortunately delayed but is expected to be completed by the start of the school year. Until then, our swim team is taking the bus to Faribault for practice in their pool. Thank you for understanding swimmers! I haven’t seen pictures yet, but it sounds like the remodel will be worth the wait!

We also discussed plans for communication to the community regarding the upcoming levy vote. Dr. Champa has already been meeting with community groups and has a full schedule of future meetings in place. The first Coffee with the Superintendent will take place in the district office at 8am on 8/22/2025. The district website has a levy page (https://www.isd761.org/our-district/levy2025 ) with more info, plus the district newsletter has information, and Dr. Champa wrote a letter to the editor in the recent People’s Press. We understand that a “Vote No” group is already established and yet I encourage anyone to contact Superintendent Champa or any board member with specific questions or concerns regarding the reasons the board elected to request increased financial support.

The 2025 MCA and school reports should be available soon as I believe they are reported at the end of August or early September each year. Keep an eye on the MN Report Card for this info, as I will be! https://rc.education.mn.gov/#mySchool/p–3

I pray that you all have a safe finish to your summer days and look forward to the routine and activities that school brings!

Soli Deo Gloria!