August 7 Meeting Highlights

August 7 Meeting Highlights

The minutes from the August 7, 2023 meeting will be reviewed and approved by the School District 197 School Board at the Monday, August 21, 2023 meeting. For more information about meeting agendas and minutes, please CLICK HERE.

Action Item - Approval of the Agenda

The motion carried (6-0).

Action Item - Approval of the Consent Agenda

The motion carried (6-0).

Listening Session Report
One community member attended the listening session to talk about more access to the community pool and recruiting more students to become lifeguards.

Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Olson-Skog stated that students have had many learning opportunities this summer. At Two Rivers High School, more than 300 grade 6-12 students participated in the Summer Strength and Conditioning Program, where they learned the basics of weight training, speed and agility, and aerobic conditioning. The district has offered summer learning programs for students of all ages, like Minds in the Middle for middle school students, Summer STARS for elementary students, and various learning and credit recovery programs for high school students. School Age Care for the elementary and middle school students has been popular this year and students in these programs have been able to enjoy free breakfast and lunch options while in the schools. Students and area youth can still enjoy a free breakfast or lunch at Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet School through August 18.  Teachers return on August 28 for Workshop Week, along with another welcome back celebration for all staff on August 29. On September 16, the Two Rivers football team will play at the Minnesota Viking’s TCO Stadium. On September 22, the annual Homecoming parade and football game will take place. On September 30, three events will take place at Two Rivers High School - the Warrior 5K Family Run/Walk will take place in the morning, Warrior Rally will take place from noon to 2pm, and the Makers Market will take place from 9am to 3pm.

Second Reading of Policy 106, Equity
Peter Mau, Assistant Superintendent, presented a second reading of Policy 106, Equity. A first reading was presented at the July 17, 2023 meeting. An equity audit was completed toward the end of the 2020-2021 school year. That audit recommended developing an equity policy. MSBA does not have a specific equity policy. This is a new policy for the school district but equity work has been ongoing. Administration began working with the Equity Advisory Committee during the 2021-2022 school year and it was determined that the School Board should guide the development of the equity policy. That work began during the 2022-2023 school year. Once the School Board provided input and guidance, other stakeholder groups provided additional input in the development of the draft equity policy. Once drafted, administration sought feedback from various student, family, and staff stakeholder groups. Finally, legal counsel was sought. The draft policy is the culmination of that work. The policy establishes equity as an essential value in the district’s governance, leadership, policies, programs, operations and practices. The district is committed to equitable opportunities and outcomes for the students, families and staff. Within the policy, there are shared responsibilities and accountability details including the School Board, Superintendent, administration, staff, students and families/community. After the first reading, changes included several word choice changes and some grammatical changes. Parent/guardian responsibility for student attendance was added.

Board members held a discussion related to the 4-Way Equity test questions that are listed in Item V, Shared Responsibilities and Accountability under letter A. Members agreed that this specific discussion could come back at a future meeting but would leave it as is in the policy for now. Board members also stated that the “monitoring frequency” of this policy should be changed to every year instead of every three years.

The administration will review the policy again for any suggested changes. Should those changes be substantive in nature, it will come back for a final reading on the main agenda. If not, this policy will be brought back for a final reading at the August 21, 2023 School Board Meeting via the consent agenda.

Action Item-Approval of Resolution Calling the School District General Election for the Purposes of Electing School Board Members
Superintendent Olson-Skog presented a resolution calling the School District General Election for the purposes of electing School Board members. The resolution is necessary for the school district to hold its general election for the purpose of electing four (4) school board members for terms of four (4) years each. The ballot will include the names of the individuals who file affidavits of candidacy during the established filing period of August 1-August 15, 2023. The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. After School Board approval, staff will proceed with any necessary legal postings within the required timeline.

The motion carried (6-0).

Action Item-Approval of Resolution Calling the School District General Election for the Purposes of Increasing General Education Revenue and Renewing the Expiring Capital Project Levy Authorization for Technology
Superintendent Olson-Skog and Brian Schultz, Director of Finance, presented information as it relates to the school district budget and possible referendum questions for the November election. This was discussed with the board at their July 17, 2023 meeting. Administration recommended asking the community to increase the general education revenue and renew the expiring capital project levy authorization for technology of the school district. The increased funding is needed for buffering against rising costs and create budget stability (inflation, competitive salaries, and special education/EL cross-subsidies, etc.), making permanent the supports that were established through one-time ESSER funds and support areas of desired improvement from the strategic plan. The current funding of the capital project levy will continue to fund student and staff devices, internet access and fiber connectivity, telecommunications, technology infrastructure, software licenses, and to pay the costs of technology personnel and training.

Three options were presented for a possible increase in the general education revenue.

  • A $700 increase per adjusted pupil unit would increase taxes by approximately $12.25 per month or $147 per year on a median home value of $350,000
  • A $731 increase per adjusted pupil unit would increase taxes by approximately $12.75 per month or $153 per year on a median home value of $350,000
  • A $762 increase per adjusted pupil unit would increase taxes by approximately $13.33 per month or $160 per year on a median home value of $350,000

Board members were in agreement to hold a special election that would include two questions on the November 7, 2023 ballot asking the community to increase the general education revenue by $731 per adjusted pupil unit and renew the expiring capital project levy authorization for technology of the school district.

The special election would be held in conjunction with the general election on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. After School Board approval, staff will proceed with any necessary legal posting within the required timelines.

The motion carried (6-0).

Summary of 2022-2023 Superintendent’s Evaluation

Vice-Chair Sarah Larsen presented a summary of the recent 2022-2023 Superintendent’s evaluation conducted by the School Board. According to Minnesota law, one of the primary responsibilities of a School Board is to annually evaluate the Superintendent. The board uses the McRel Balanced Leadership Superintendent Evaluation System. The McREL system includes five components on which the superintendent is evaluated
along with an overall performance rating. Each rating use a five-point scale (1-Not demonstrated, 2- Developing, 3-Proficient, 4-Accomplished, and 5-Distinguished).

The School Board held a closed session on July 17, 2023 to evaluate Superintendent Olson-Skog. During the closed session, the board members provided the superintendent with their evaluations of his specific strengths and opportunities for growth. The board’s evaluation of Dr. Olson-Skog for each of the components and their overall rating for his performance are as follows.

  1. Purposeful Community -Accomplished
  2. Managing Change -Distinguished
  3. Focus of Leadership -Distinguished
  4.  Management -Accomplished
  5. Superintendent/Board Relations -Distinguished

Overall-Distinguished (the median rating of the component ratings)

The board is very supportive and pleased with the superintendent’s work. The appreciate the direction of the district and the work that is being done in alignment with the strategic framework.

Adjournment
The motion carried (6-0).