School Board Notes 6.13.2023

June 13 Meeting Highlights

The minutes from the June 13, 2023 meeting will be reviewed and approved by the School District 197 School Board at the Monday, July 17, 2023 meeting. For more information about meeting agendas and minutes, please CLICK HERE.

Action Item - Approval of Agenda
The motion carried (5-0).

Action Item - Approval of Consent Agenda
The motion carried (5-0).

Comments to the School Board
No one was in attendance to provide comments to the School Board.

K-12 Math Curriculum Review
Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; Kate Skappel, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator; and Miles Lawson, Secondary Curriculum Coordinator, presented an update on the K-12 Math Curriculum Review. The review team included a representative K-12 group of teachers and building and district administrators. The review team performed a self-study with an environmental scan; developed core beliefs and outcomes; surveyed students, staff and families; conducted a strengths and weaknesses analysis; reviewed the proposed state changes for Math requirements and standards; and reviewed data related to Math achievement and participation. Organizational changes to the standards include three strands instead of four; Standards in Mathematical Practice in each benchmark; and benchmarks in context. Content changes to the standards include an increase in the K-4 benchmarks. Next steps include a Year 2 resource review in 2023-2024; phased implementation determined by the review team in 2024-fall 2027 and full implementation of the new standards in FY 2027-2028.

Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System Annual Report
Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, presented the Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System (ATPPS) annual report. Under Minnesota Statute, section 122A.414, subdivision 3(a), participating programs must report on the implementation and effectiveness of ATPPS and make annual recommendations to their School Boards and must include the report as part of their World’s Best Workforce report. The report has four components: teacher evaluation; collaborative teams; new teacher mentors; and performance pay. The data to complete the report was collected through online surveys, conversations with Instructional Peer Coaches, and data from the Summative Assessment meetings. School districts are also required to submit any plan changes to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) by August 31, 2023. There are no plan changes that need to be submitted for the 2023-2024 school year.

First Reading of Policy 202, School Board Officers and Organization
Superintendent Olson-Skog presented a first reading of Policy 202, School Board Officers and Organization. This policy was last reviewed in April of 2019. The policy adheres to the district’s processes and procedures currently in place. Administration recommended continued use of district specific language given it blends elements from multiple MSBA model policies. The administration has reviewed this policy against relevant legislative and believe it continues to adhere. One change is being recommended for the policy. Under III, Officers’ Roles, A. Chair, the following has been added: The Chair shall have completed MSBA Phase I, II, III, and IV training prior to serving as chair to ensure governance norms and protocols. If the school board determines there is not a member who qualifies, this requirement may be waived upon majority vote. This policy will be brought back for a second reading, via the consent agenda, at the July 17, 2023 School Board Meeting.

First Reading of Policy 208, Development, Adoption and Implementation of Policies
Superintendent Olson-Skog presented a first reading of Policy 208, Development, Adoption, and Implementation of Policies. This policy was last reviewed in April of 2019. The policy adheres to the district’s processes and procedures currently in place. The district’s current policy was reviewed against MSBA’s model policy and it continues to mostly match that language. Minor wording changes have been made per the recommendation of MSBA. Member Schwab mentioned he thought there was a change to the number of policies that needed to be reviewed annually. Superintendent Olson-Skog stated that he would check into that. This policy will be brought back for a second reading, via the consent agenda, at the July 17, 2023 School Board Meeting.

Action Item – Approval of Resolution Establishing Dates for Filing Affidavits of Candidacy
Superintendent Olson-Skog presented the resolution for establishing dates for filing affidavits of candidacy for the November election. School District 197 will conduct an election on November 7, 2023. Four members will be elected to the School Board for terms of four years each. Duties will begin January 2024. The filing period will begin on August 1, 2023 and will close at 5:00 p.m. on August 15, 2023. Affidavits of Candidacy will be available from the school district clerk, Independent School District No. 197, 1897 Delaware Avenue, Mendota Heights, MN 55118. The filing fee for this office is $2. A candidate for this office must be an eligible voter, must be 21 years of age or more on assuming office, must have been a resident of the school district from which the candidate seeks election for thirty (30) days before the general election, and must have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the same election. Candidates must also confirm that they have not been convicted of an offense for which they are required to register as a predatory offender under Minnesota Statutes, Section 243.166 (Registration of Predatory Offenders). After School Board approval, staff will proceed with any necessary legal postings within the required timeline. A candidate information session will be held on August 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at the district office.
The motion carried (5-0).

Action Item – Approval of FY 23-24 Budgets
Brian Schultz, Director of Finance, presented the proposed 2023-2024 budgets (General, Community Service, Food Service, and Debt Service) for approval. This was presented in detail at the June 5, 2023 School Board meeting. Projected General Fund revenue for FY 23-24 is $85,316,540 while expenditures are projected at 85,694,144. The projected total ending fund balance is $7,797,484. Projected revenue for the Community Service fund budget is $4,642,651 with expenditures at $4,619,498 with an ending fund balance of $751,646. Projected revenue for the Food Service fund budget is $3,756,050 with expenditures at $3,754,515 with an ending restricted fund balance of $575,057. Projected revenue for the Debt Service fund budget is $9,597,405 with expenditures at $10,204,673 with an ending restricted fund balance of $1,958,085.
The motion carried (5-0).

Action Item – Approval of Middle School Schedule Recommendation
Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, presented the middle school schedule recommendation. This was presented to the board in detail at their May 15, 2023 and June 5, 2023 meetings. Based on all of the work of the design team and stakeholder feedback, district administration recommended the following option for implementation for FY 2024-2025:

  • 6-period day with 4 lunch periods
  • Included homeroom and flex
  • 50-minute class periods
  • A/B elective schedule for grades 5-8
  • More room for intervention in grades 5-6
  • 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. Items that will stay the same within the schedule include a 6-period day for grades 7 and 8; 4 lunch periods; lunch is the same length; and assume grades 5 and 6 remain teamed. Items that will change include grades 5 and 6 have a 6-period day; same schedule for all four grade levels; flex time is added; grades 5 and 6 will have no recess; and PhyEd, Music, Art and Digital Citizenship are every other day. The curriculum items for consideration include grades 5 and 6 include a reduction in instructional time core content areas; increase in instructional time for electives; some curriculum review findings in social studies and writing; a new MN Arts standards requirement; and a need for intervention. In grades 7 and 8, there is a new MN Arts standards requirement; some curriculum review findings in the media literacy standards; and a review of the current electives and alignment to the Strategic Framework. Next steps include:

  • Use FY23-24 to plan for implementation in FY 24-25
  • Art and Music teams will continue their work on ways to meet the new Arts standards
  • A “Flex Team” will be formed to design and help the implementation of Flex
  • Curriculum teams will need to address the changes in instructional time and consider how best to meet standards. Consider teacher licensure in the staffing and scheduling process Flex will be addressed by the district and during contract discussion
  • Consider teacher licensure in the staffing and scheduling process
  • Flex will be addressed by the district and during contract discussions

The motion carried (4-1).

Action Item – Approval of Update to the FY23-24 District Academic Calendar
Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, presented updates to the FY23-24 district academic calendar. This recommendation was presented in detail at the June 5, 2023 School Board meeting. The past few years, the high school has had “flex learning” days on days where assessments are given. On these days, students in grades that are not testing stay home and complete assignments while students who are testing come to school. For the upcoming school year, the high school intends to havethree flex learning days - two of which are for assessment:

  • Tuesday March 5, 2024 when the ACT is administered to all juniors.
  • Tuesday April 9, 2024 when the MCA Reading and MCA Math assessments are given to sophomores and juniors.
  • As staff continue to work on improving transition to high school, the administration is seeking the approval of a third flex day, Tuesday November 21, 2023, to bring 8th grade students to the high school. The day would provide 8th graders the opportunity to learn about their transition to high school, prepare for course selections, meet their high school counselor, interact with high school students, eat in the cafeteria, and tour the building. This day would also provide opportunities for our high school students to demonstrate leadership and service.
  • Additionally, June 19, 2024 (Juneteenth) has been added to the calendar as a holiday per the new state law.

The motion carried (5-0).

Review of School Board Stipends
Chair Joanne Mansur presented information on the School Board stipends. School District 197 is one of nine members in the ISD 917 collaborative school district. As a service, 917 gathers School Board salary information from each of the member districts. This information is reviewed annually. The last increase to stipends was in2022 and included a $375 increase for directors (to $5,100 annually) and a $550 increase for the chair (to $5,800 annually). Board members reviewed the information and agreed to discuss this again next June.

Adjournment
The motion carried (5-0).