February 5 Meeting Highlights

February 5 Meeting Highlights

The minutes from the February 5, 2024 meeting will be reviewed and approved by the School District 197 School Board at the Tuesday, February 20, 2024 meeting. For more information about meeting agendas and minutes, please CLICK HERE.

 

Action Item - Approval of the Agenda

The motion carried (7-0).

Action Item - Approval of Consent Agenda

The motion carried (7-0).

Listening Session Report
Board member Steele stated that two individuals attended the listening session to discuss special education services offered by the school district.

Recognitions
Two Rivers Key Club leaders were in attendance to be recognized for their Morning of Service event in honor of Martin Luther King Junior Day. Students LaRae Dodson, JaeLynn Dodson, Kendyl Dodson, Evangeline Fuentes and Nawal Hassan were in attendance, along with Key Club Advisors Dr. Mary Beth Townsend and Jim Probst.

Students, staff, and community members spent the morning giving back. Volunteers made tie blankets for local shelters, prepared care packages for the United Way, painted kindness rocks, and more. School Board Director Marcus Hill served as the guest speaker. The South Robert Street Business Association sponsored the event.

 

Student Representative’s Report
Student Representatives LaRae Dodson and Samantha Villa stated that ACCESS testing occurs throughout the month. On February 8, Garlough will host their 4th grade music concert, while Garlough and Mendota will have their parent-teacher conferences. Garlough is also hosting a book fair in the media center. Friendly Hills is having an LGBTQ parent and guardian night on February 7. On February 22, Friendly Hills will be hosting parent-teacher conferences. The Nordic team has had a successful season despite the lack of snow. The boys swim team had a strong conference season, winning 7 of their 9 meets. The dance team is competing in the section tournament this weekend. The Speech team placed first in the team sweepstakes for the first time in a decade.

Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Olson-Skog stated that February is Black History Month. School District 197 honors and celebrates Black History Month and African Americans' many contributions and achievements, locally and globally. The district is committed to ensuring all students feel welcome, connected, and affirmed every day. McKinley Cherrier, a junior at Two Rivers, has been appointed as the first Junior Councilmember of the City of West St. Paul. As part of the program, McKinley will attend City Council meetings and provide input on matters affecting West St. Paul's youth. This week is National School Counseling Week and highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. It is Minnesota School Board Recognition Month. Superintendent Olson-Skog thanked the dedicated elected officials on the school board for guiding the district's work for our students.

Site Report from Mendota Elementary School
Principal Steve Goldade provided a site report from Mendota Elementary School. Mendota believes in knowing their students individually, culturally, and developmentally to build their community of learners. Principal Goldade shared these points of pride: a land acknowledgment honoring and respecting the Indigenous people who have called the land home for generations; use of social media to foster inclusivity and unite the school community; the new social studies curriculum; and reading challenges, book clubs, and interventions. New in the 23-24 school year is the craft and bake sale, Black History Month, an upcoming visit by local author Sarah Warren, and the Mary Jo Skemp Pergola Project.

Site Report from Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School
Principal Tom Benson provided a site report from Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School. Pilot Knob is a diverse and inclusive community dedicated to creating lifelong learners with the 21st-century skills students will need to succeed. Principal Benson shared these points of pride: summer STEM programming, Sparks days where students can explore a new area of interest, and family book clubs and STEM nights. New in the 23-24 school year is more student field trip experiences, computer programming, and the Girls on the Run program. Looking ahead, the school will be hosting more community events and will have a continued partnership with the University of Minnesota to do targeted interventions.

Site Report from Heritage E-STEM Magnet School
Principal Karen Allen provided a site report from Heritage E-STEM Magnet School. Heritage E-STEM (Environment, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Magnet School serves students in grades 5-8. Teachers at Heritage use STEM concepts, projects, and field experiences related to the environment to help students learn in new and interesting ways. Principal Allen shared these points of pride: many student opportunities and activities and a focus on student support and mentorship. New in the 23-24 school year is Family Connections with weekly vital checks, an updated library, and student voice in the library.

Strategic Framework Social Emotional Learning Implementation Target Update
Sara Lein, Director of Special Services, Miles Lawson, Secondary Curriculum and Gifted and Talented Coordinator, and Katie Shetka, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator, presented an update on the strategic framework social-emotional learning (SEL) implementation target. SEL is an educational method that aims to foster social and emotional skills within the school curriculum. District objectives include:

  • Align elementary counseling curriculum to SEL learning targets and identify any gaps
  • Develop a coordinated approach for supporting students’ social and emotional learning across the district that will include specific targets

The next steps will be to provide students with consistent opportunities to cultivate, practice, and reflect on social and emotional competencies in developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive ways. SEL objectives will be integrated into instructional content and teaching strategies for academics, music, art, and physical education. The AMAZEworks curriculum will also be utilized as part of a 3-year roll-out in the early learning and elementary sites. Creating school-wide and classroom learning environments that are supportive, culturally responsive, and focused on building relationships and community will be an important aspect. Providing staff with regular opportunities to cultivate their SEL competence is also important.

Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee Update
Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; Miles Lawson, Secondary Curriculum and Gifted and Talented Coordinator; and Ben Kusch, Director of TriDistrict Center for Applied Professional Studies, presented an update on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Committee. Minnesota requires local Perkins V fund recipients to create a local advisory committee with staff, parents/guardians, community members, and students. Established during the 2021-2022 school year, this advisory group has significantly transformed its structure and objectives. In the initial phase, efforts were concentrated on forming a cohesive group, establishing a robust structure, and fostering meaningful relationships between our Career and Technical Education (CTE) staff in ISD 197 and local business, industry, and post-secondary partners. Today, the committee is honing in on activities aligned with the three CTE goals identified in the 2022-2023 academic year:

  • Design and implement a sustainable work-based learning program
    • Expansion of work-based learning in the general education setting; college credit coursework through DCTC; online coursework opportunities; expansion of certified staff members
  • Create full pathways in each program area
    • Business & Entrepreneurship; IT; Healthcare; Transportation & Trades
  • Offer at least one college credit-bearing opportunity, or industry-recognized certification, in each program area
    • Expansion of certifications in arts, automotive, healthcare, health science; live event production, and technology.
    • Expansion of college credit-bearing coursework in Computer Science/Information Technology; Math; Music; Physical Education; Personal Health; Work-based learning; Healthcare; and Government.

Action Item – Approval of Resolution for Temporary Easement for Lone Oak Road Improvements
Mark Fortman, Director of Operations, presented information on proposed improvements to Lone Oak Road in Eagan. This was presented to the board in detail at their January 22, 2024 meeting. In partnership with the City of Eagan, Dakota County is planning roadway and trail improvements to Lone Oak Road (County Road 26) between Highway 13 and I-35E in Eagan to create a safe experience for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

This section of the corridor is a critical component of the regional trail and transportation network as it provides a connection to the Minnesota River Greenway Trailhead, Highway 13, Pilot Knob Road, and I-35E. It also serves the Pilot Knob Elementary School and area residents and businesses. Construction is planned to begin in the Spring of 2025 to incorporate the following improvements to the Lone Oak Road corridor:

  • A multi-use trail along the section between Highway 13 and Pilot Knob Road (County Road 31)
  • Travel and turn lane improvements, trail improvements, and enhanced crossing improvements near Pilot Knob STEM School
  • Lane reduction from four and five to three lanes on the section between Pilot Knob Road (County Road 31) and I-35E.
  • Watermain, drainage, and storm sewer improvements
  • Improved pedestrian and bicycle crossings
  • Lighting and landscaping enhancements

This project requires the acquisition of a temporary easement and a settlement agreement. The county has appraised the property and is offering $39,400 as compensation for the temporary easement.

The motion carried (7-0).

Action Item – Approval of FY 2024-2025 School Age Care Fee Increases
Lisa Grathen, Director of Community Education, presented proposed SAC fee increases for FY 24-25. This was presented to the board in detail at their January 22, 2024 meeting. SAC is a fee-based program. Fee increases were proposed to address inflation in the programs’ operating expenses.

  • The current daily rate for the program is $23.50
    • AM K-4 at $6.50 and AM 5-8 at $10.25
    • PM K-4 at $17.00 and PM 5-8 at $13.25
  • The proposed new rate is $28.25
    • AM K-4 at $8.00 and AM 5-8 at $12.25
    • PM K-4 at $20.25 and PM 5-8 at $16.00
  • The current daily drop-in rate is $3.00 additional for AM and $4.00 additional for PM. The proposed rates will go up $1.00 in the AM and $2.00 in the PM.
  • The current “pick your day rate” is an additional $2.00 for AM and $3.00 additional for PM. Those fees will not change.
  • The current non-school day rate is $49.00 with a proposed increase to $54.00.
  • The current summer daily rate is $44.00 with a proposed increase to $48.50.

The proposed increases for drop-in and pick-your-day rates are higher, given the difficulty in scheduling and staffing. Even with the proposed increases, the proposed program fees for next year remain within the range of comparison districts’ fees. The SAC program has had a waitlist since the Fall of 2021 due to staff shortages. The district has focused on recruitment strategies and employee incentives to retain current employees and has hired new employees to address the waitlisted families needing childcare.

The motion carried (7-0).

Action Item – Approval of Revisions to FY 2024-2025 District Academic Calendar
Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, presented proposed revisions to the FY 24-25 district academic calendar. This was presented to the board in detail at their meeting on January 22, 2024. The FY 2024-2025 academic calendar was presented at the October 23, 2023 board work session and approved at their November 13, 2023 meeting. In May 2023, the Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act, known as the READ Act, was passed and signed into law. The goal of this legislation is to have every Minnesota child reading at or above grade level every year, beginning in kindergarten, and to support multilingual learners and students receiving special education services in achieving their individualized reading goals.

As part of this legislation beginning July 1, 2024, each school district must provide training on evidence-based reading instruction that is approved by the Minnesota Department of Education for phase 1 teachers. The first phase requires districts to provide professional development to the following groups and for that training to be completed by July 1, 2025:

  • PreK Classroom Educators – PreK educators
  • Grades K–3 Classroom Educators
  • Grades K–12 Reading Intervention Educators
  • Grades PreK–12 Special Education Educators responsible for reading instruction
  • Grades PreK–5 Curriculum Directors
  • Employees who select literacy instructional materials for grades PreK–5

There are three approved professional development programs. The administration has selected CAREIALL. CAREI stands for the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, part of the University of Minnesota. ALL stands for Advancing Language and Literacy. The CAREIALL training includes 45 hours of individual work and 16 hours of whole group training. 8 professional development days are needed to make this
training possible.

The current school calendar includes six professional development days, two the week before school starts and four throughout the year. The administration is recommending that 5 of the 6 professional development days are used to support the READ Act training and that 3 student days be turned into professional development days. Further, the administration selected and LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) for early childhood. Early childhood educators will be able to complete the LETRS training within their professional development days as well.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the following professional development days would be added to the calendar: Friday December 20, 2024; Friday February 14, 2025; and Tuesday April 1, 2025. These dates were chosen to ensure the CAREIALL training is spread out across the year in manageable chunks and allows time for make- up for any staff member that may miss one of the training days.

The motion carried (7-0).

Summary of 2023 School Board Self-Evaluation
Byron Schwab, Chair of the Board Results Committee, presented a summary of the 2023 board self-evaluation. Each year, the school board conducts a self-evaluation across five competency areas. This was presented to the board in detail at their meeting on January 22, 2024. The evaluation uses a five-point scale through which the board assesses their achievement of each competency.

Competency #1: Develop and maintain a collaborative and trusting relationship between the Board, the Superintendent and individual board members. Establish consistent, open and honest communication. Trust, respect, confidentiality, communication and transparency were viewed as strengths. Additionally, the board described a clear understanding and adherence to the difference between the board’s role of governance and the administration’s role of management as a strength. The value, need and importance for onboarding of new board members was supported (average rating was 4.75)

Competency #2: Board's performance in working with the Superintendent to formulate district policy, defining mutual expectations of performance with the Superintendent and demonstrating good school governance to all district stakeholders. Ethical standards, adherence to open meetings laws and policy development were themes among the strengths identified. A theme was refreshing the board on Robert’s Rules of Order (average rating
was 4.71).

Competency #3: Board's performance in understanding and modeling of appropriate value systems, ethics and moral leadership. Confidentiality, collegiality and appropriate handling of conflict were seen as strengths among board members. No themes among board members were noted beyond continuing the systems and habits in place (average rating was 4.88).

Competency #4: Developing each board member's understanding of broad education issues, trends, and best practice. Effective meetings, member preparation, and orientation/onboarding were seen as strengths among board members. More professional development opportunities for board members was supported (average rating was 4.5).

Competency #5: Thoughtfully planning for the future and regularly making necessary adjustments to ensure continuous progress toward achieving stated goals. Vision/Mission and goals, as expressed through the district’s strategic framework, were seen as strengths among board members. Continued and deepened awareness of progress towards the achievement of the district’s mission and goals (average rating was 4.71).

Adjournment

The motion carried (7-0).