December 11 Meeting Highlights

Action Item - Approval of the Agenda
The motion carried (7-0).

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Action Item - Approval of the Content Agenda
The motion carried (7-0).

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Listening Session Report
One community member attended the listening session to discuss the middle school schedule and recess.

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Recognitions
Superintendent Olson-Skog stated that the fall season for athletics and activities has wrapped up with 471 athletic and 63 activity participants. Special thanks to all of the coaches, advisors, and families for supporting the students in so many ways this fall. Head Coach Chris Sjogren for Girls Swim and Dive introduced the state tournament competitors: Maggie Auran; Savannah Carr; Eden Hill; Elyse Jahn; Grace Marek; and Charlotte Vogen. Superintendent Olson-Skog introduced the Girls Cross Country state tournament competitors: Charlotte Chandler; Ella Hoffman; Gabriela Walz; Josie Miller; Lily Wollan; Maggie McEllistrem; Maria Becker; and Nina Kanavati. Superintendent Olson-Skog introduced the Boys Cross Country state tournament competitors: Patrick Donohoo; Lucas Esten; and Max Molinaro. Two Rivers High School Principal Al Johnson introduced two students who were on the Adapted Soccer team, the Dakota Hawks, who took second place at the state tournament: Jeffrey Rosga and DJ Burbage.

 

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Student Representative’s Report
Student Representatives LaRae Dodson and Samantha Villa presented their student report. Student Council is offering an optional spirit week for students as they approach exams before winter break. Students have begun musical rehearsals for performances in February. Many winter concerts are taking place. The annual Bridges Concert took place where high school students are joined by eighth graders from across the district. Winter sports and activities have begun including drumline, Speech, boys and girls basketball, dance team, gymnastics, boys and girls hockey, boys swimming and diving, wrestling, and Nordic skiing. The early learning center recently had an all-program dance party. At the middle schools, students are participating in band and choir concerts. At the elementary schools, PTA’s are meetings and offering fun activities for students.

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Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Peter Olson-Skog expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the three outgoing board members Joanne Mansur, Brenda Corbett and Terry Stamman for their unwavering dedication and service to the school district. Both Joanne and Brenda have served on the board for 12 years and Terry has served for 8. Superintendent Olson-Skog also expressed appreciation to the district’s Director of Finance, Brian Schultz, who is moving on from the school district after almost 20 years.

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Site Report from Moreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet School
Principal Rob Sahli presented a site report from Moreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet School. Moreland is a vibrant community committed to cultivating creativity, healthy living, and achievement through active learning. Points of Pride include the 4th grade Capstone Musical, and SPARKS days where students are given the opportunity to select a class of interest where they are able to learn and explore new ideas and topics. Looking ahead, there will be a renewed focus on attendance, instructional coaching focused on student interventions, student support teams, and equity-focused ILT meetings.

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Site Report from Garlough Environmental Magnet School
Principal Sue Powell presented a site report from Garlough Environmental Magnet School. Garlough uses the natural world to enrich learning and inspire learning. Points of Pride include Garlough alum Isaiah Allen who is now an author, 4th grade teacher Jenny Regan receiving the inclusive educator award, and the PBIS (positive behavior intervention and support) initiative. Looking ahead, Student Council will participate in more activities, the Team Smile partnership with the Minnesota Vikings offering free dental care to student groups, and the native language literacy program. Garlough is participating in Growing their Own preparing the next generation of educators and mental health professionals.

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Career and College Readiness Implementation Target Update
Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Dr. Jessica Cabak, Associate Principal from Two Rivers High School, and Miles Lawson, Secondary Curriculum and Gifted and Talented Coordinator, presented an update on the Career and College Readiness Implementation Target. Focus Area #3 of the Strategic Plan is to “increase E-12 opportunities for career exploration and preparation”. It focuses on:

• Course, school and structural support - offering work-based learning programs, expanding intervention support, ensuring course sequences will reduce barriers to participation, and implementing activities associated with the National Writing Project grant
• Direct student supports - offering increased support for underrepresented groups, supporting students in rigorous courses, providing deeper experiences through field trips and guest speakers, implementing BARR (building assets, reducing risks), and continuing to refine the transition procedures
• Career and college readiness - implementing year 2 courses within the Expansion of Rigorous Grant, increasing the number of staff who can teach courses that provide high school and college credit concurrently, increasing the number of courses and student who participate in concurrent courses

Career and technical education pathways – developing a course in Agriculture, developing a plan for creating full pathways in each of the six career pathways, increasing communication about courses and career pathways during the registration process, considering middle school elective opportunities to CTE pathways

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Action Item-Approval of Amended Middle School Schedule Framework
Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, presented an amendment to the Middle School Schedule framework. On June 13, 2023, the School Board approved the structure of a new middle school schedule. The approved schedule provides a consistent schedule across both middle schools and included:

• 6-period day with 4 lunch periods
• Included homeroom and flex
• 50-minute class periods
• A/B elective schedule for grades 5-8
• Grades 7 and 8 stay on a 6-period schedule but will have a flex time which could allow for student choice, meet student needs, and allow building of relationships
• 3-minute passing time

This option best met the guiding change document as it offers one schedule building wide; allows for staff to serve multiple grade levels particularly in Special Ed, ESL and intervention; has a common rotation (every grade level is on a two-day rotation); and it has flex time. This process is about the schedule and number of periods, not courses. Course options will be determined during implementation. One of the action steps following board approval was to address the new schedule during contract negotiations. In the ongoing collaboration, it was determined that two separate periods for homeroom and flex within the confines of a 6-period day does not comply with the teacher contract. As a result of that, suggested changes to the framework include no homeroom, lengthen period 1 by an additional 10 minutes and add 2 minutes to each period from 50 to 52 minutes. Staying the same would be the 6-period day with 4 lunch periods, A/B elective schedules for grades 5-8 and the 3-minute passing time.

The motion carried (7-0).

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Taxes Payable 2024 Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing
Brian Schultz, Director of Finance, presented the Truth-in-Taxation public hearing for taxes payable in 2024. State law requires that the presentation include information on the current year’s budget, prior year actual revenue and expenditures, proposed property tax levy including percentage increase or decrease and specific purposes and reasons for which taxes are being increased if applicable. The district must also allow time for public comment.

Mr. Schultz presented background on school funding, property tax levies and budgets. Since 2002-2003, the state General Education Revenue has not kept pace with inflation. Taxes next year will be lower than they were in 2021 on a home or business that has maintained its value. Taxes for the past two years were down due to a temporary decrease in enrollment. As such, taxpayers will experience an increase from last year but they will remain lower than 2021. Taxes continue to remain among the lowest in the metro area.

Information on the district’s budget, and the proposed tax levy for taxes payable in 2024 was presented. All school district budgets are divided into separate funds, based on purposes of revenue, as required by law. Approximately 74% of the district’s revenue comes from the state, 23% from local and 2.8% from the federal level. The majority of the district’s budget goes towards instructional purposes. Mr. Schultz stated that the proposed 2024 property tax levy is $35,850,901 which is an increase from last year. The majority of that increase is a result of changes to recent voter approved levies and increased enrollment. No one was in attendance to make a public comment on this topic. By statute, a School Board must adopt their final property tax levy by December 30 and certify the levy to the county auditor. Staff will follow through with associated tasks.

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Action Item – Adopt 2023 Payable 2024 Property Tax Levy
Brian Schultz, Director of Finance, presented the proposed 2023 payable 2024 property tax levy. On or before December 30, 2023, each school district must adopt its final 2023 payable 2024 property tax levy and certify it to the county auditor. The final property tax levy may be less than, but may not exceed, the proposed property tax levy, except for allowable “Add-on” levies approved by voters after the proposed levy was certified. A Truth-in-Taxation hearing was held earlier in the meeting. Mr. Schultz recommended that the board adopt the 2024 property tax levy of $35,850,900.53. Overall, after two years of decreases, the 2024 levy is increasing due to the voter approved operating referendum increase, increased enrollment (which drives many of the levy calculations), shifts from state aid to taxes, and a lower debt service fund balance resulting in a smaller debt excess reduction on the levy.

The motion carried (7-0).