Osseo Area Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Story
School board approves pay raises for staff, major building projects
Community Education Summer Programs Report
District Vision, Achievements, and Upcoming Events
School Board Member Reports and Community Partnerships
Employee Contract Approvals
Votes (10)
Architectural Update on Building a Better Future
Len from Old Architects and Engineers provided updates on Maple Grove Senior High (capacity increase, major renovations/additions, phased construction until Fall 2027) and a new Elementary School (PreK-5, 1000-student capacity, completion Fall 2026, outdoor classrooms). Updates also included Osseo Senior High (schematic design, auto lab addition), and current construction progress at Brooklyn and Northview Middle Schools, plus district-wide furniture installations. Nancy Lire from ATSR Planners Architects and Engineers presented on Year One alterations for six elementary 'sister schools' (media center remodels, outdoor classrooms), with Fernbrook and Edinbrook delayed. She also detailed the repurposing of Crest View for early childhood, professional development, and the American Indian Cultural Center, noting structural challenges and new entry plans. Board members inquired about student involvement in design, Maple Grove Senior High's current capacity and open enrollment, auditorium renovation timelines, and the purpose of production and community kitchens at Crest View, expressing appreciation for the proactive facility approach and community support.
Summer Programming Report
Brian Severson Hall introduced the Community Education team, outlining three key goals for summer programs: providing positive, safe spaces; ensuring interaction with caring adults; and fostering creative opportunities. Over 5,000 scholars were served across 14 district buildings, despite construction challenges. Carrie detailed various programs like Middle School Targeted Services (OMG/GAYON) and Credit Recovery, noting 732 credits earned. Taj Tabel discussed Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs, including a successful native Spanish class, and community partnerships. Christie Johnson reported on the Kidstop program, serving the entire community without a waitlist, and its extensive field trips. Melissa Carstens highlighted youth mini-camps (94% ran) and Camp Rocks Academic Adventures, noting significant student enrollment and generous donations like lacrosse/soccer kits and backpacks. A question about pickleball programming led to a discussion on offering diverse 'samples' of activities.
Superintendent's Report
Dr. Kim Hile welcomed the community to the 2024-25 school year, emphasizing the district's 'Build a Better Future' initiative and the implementation of 'Focus Fidelity' to align strategic priorities, create flexible learning spaces, and enhance safety measures including cyber security. The 'Points of Pride' section celebrated student accomplishments such as Alisan An's participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics for Taekwondo, Amelia Morton's golf state championship and college commitment, and Natalie Moren's national bus safety poster award. It also recognized the Nutrition Services team for serving nearly 40,000 meals over the summer. Upcoming events included the first day of school and the District 279 Foundation's Reading is Fun 5K.
School Board Members Reports
Director Prince reported on the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth meeting, highlighting progress on 'reimagine black youth mental health,' the 'free college campaign,' and the 'youth to youth survey.' She specifically detailed a demonstration project on positive social media and technology use, aiming to educate youth on dangers and navigation while fostering safer online environments. Director Mosa Jones reported on an ISD 287 meeting, commending their strategic plan's three themes: academic success, equity and inclusion, and social-emotional learning, which uniquely developed student-focused, staff-focused, and family-focused goals with input from all stakeholders, aiming to service the entire family.
Consent Agenda
Moved by Sarah Mitchell [1:37:09] · Seconded by Tanya Prince [1:37:16]
The consent agenda included minutes from the previous regular meeting, financial reports, payment of items, the 24-25 investment report, extended educational trips, fundraisers, personnel items, a contract with St. David Center for school-linked mental health services in several buildings, and fiscal year 25 Federal grant delegation resolutions. Chair Mosa Jones specifically noted that the mental health contract with St. David Center has been 'lifechanging' in her past experience.
Approval of Agreement: Licensed Coordinators Employment Terms
Moved by Tama Grady [1:42:01] · Seconded by Thomas Brooks [1:42:05]
Ivan Schutz Lind provided an overall summary of common terms for four contracts presented, including this one. Key changes involved a 5% base salary increase in year one, 3% in year two, a shift to pay-for-performance stipends, increased district contributions to group health plans, increased deferred compensation contributions, and conversion of non-work days to vacation days. These terms were consistent with the school board's established financial parameters.
Approval of Agreement: Directors and Confidential Managers Employment Terms
Moved by Tama Grady [1:43:28] · Seconded by Tanya Prince [1:43:32]
Ivan Schutz Lind explained that this contract shared the same common terms as the licensed coordinators' agreement, including salary increases and benefit adjustments. Additionally, this agreement included modifications to a benefit plan and retirement incentive MOU, along with three new MOUs specific to the terms and conditions of employment for directors.
Approval of Addendum: Superintendent Contract (Dr. Kim Hile)
Moved by Tanya Prince [1:44:02] · Seconded by Thomas Brooks [1:44:06]
Ivan Schutz Lind clarified that the addendum to Dr. Hile's contract primarily focused on salary changes (5% increase in year one, 3% in year two) and incorporated the common benefits outlined for the other contracts. This specific contract amendment extends for a three-year term, from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026.
Approval of Addendum: General Counsel Contract (Amy Moore)
Moved by Jackie Mosa Jones [1:44:29] · Seconded by Sarah Mitchell [1:44:34]
The addendum to Amy Moore's contract for General Counsel included the same common terms regarding salary increases and benefits as the other approved contracts. This amendment is for a two-year term, covering July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
Gifts to the District
Moved by Tanya Prince [1:45:09] · Seconded by Thomas Brooks [1:45:12]
The board considered the approval of gifts totaling $58,183.00, expressing gratitude to all donors for their contributions.
Notable Quotes (9)
one of one of the differences and we we've had people ask the question why are you only going to 2730 we're going to 2730 with full flexibility so it's it's first you fix the the capacity issues today so so we have the flexible spaces we can use the media center as what intended we can use all those other Flex classrooms and so forth and then you boost up the capacity so that that combination should should alleviate that but at the same time our projections for the next 10 plus years show that's the number we're going to hit um and and trying to be cognizant of taxpayer dollars we didn't want to ask for more than we should
the production kitchen is happens to be a large so we're going take of that number one also theity we can use it to serve the Early Childhood classes that are there and also to be able to cater and host events so so as an example if we were going to have an all district or a district um learning lead leaders event where we would normally come in in the morning and have a light breakfast or something along those lines where today we're renting that space we'd be able to handle that capability on our own and then the other piece was a was a Community Kitchen that's being set up kind of like a fax lab in a school where it's much more residential grade kitchen where we can have the opportunity with either Community Ed enrichment to to do classes or American Indian Ed can teach cultural Cuisine options for our indigenous Cuisines and how to do that so wanted to have a space that the community can utilize because there's a lot of restrictions with a production kitchen where we can't just let the general public in where so we wanted to have other option with a community kitchen
you know we've with the building the better future being two phases with many years on EAC looking at when do we make that investment when do we start construction with Co in there um I think it's just amazing to see it come together and I think it's a real strength of this District to take that proactive approach to ensuring that our facilities are keeping Pace with our students needs that we're not a district that has let everything kind of come down and then have to go ask and then build it back up
our program impact was we achieved those for over 5,000 Scholars this summer right so we are thrilled that uh we serve that many people during the non-school time and our out of school time in the summer
you know it's hard you never want to say what your favorite thing is but my favorite thing this summer was visiting the um ECFE class uh taught in Spanish uh and when you when it's N9 o' in the morning and a little three-year-old screams buen DS to you in the morning it's makes everything worth it to be quite honest
I know that community isn't always understood by the community and how much you actually do um so I think this gave us a little taste of how many people that that Community Ed serves and um the caliber of people that work for a community ed so um I appreciate you all very much and um thank you for what you do for your community
Our Scholars are top priority and we are dedicated to helping them shine and achieve their dreams of course none of this would be possible without the dedication and expertise of our talented and our caring staff We are deeply grateful for their efforts so together with these goals we'll help o schools become the best place to learn and a best place to work
This is a demonstration project on positive use social media and technology so overview of the project the project will focus on education policy and positive use regarding technology and social media we will teach youth about the dangers of social media and ways to navigate the social media algorithm from there we will create focus groups with students School administration and reimagine interns to review and discuss Minnesota's legislative cell phone use policy in school which we know we've been participating in that um that work finally youth will work to build a project aiming to demonstrate positive use habits in real time with an overarching goal of creating safer more positive online environments for themselves and and their peers
each uh the overall goal for the district they um submitted a student goal a staff focused goal and a family focused goal which I thought was a great way um to make sure that we're servicing the entire family when um we're looking at those things and each one of those um had input from student staff and families
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
District-wide initiative funding construction and renovation projects.
Long-Term Facilities Maintenance funding, partnering with referendum projects.
Agreement for providing School-linked Mental Health services in several district buildings.
Resolutions delegating authority for federal grants for the upcoming fiscal year.
Agreement defining employment terms for licensed coordinators from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
Agreement defining employment terms for directors and confidential managers from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
Amendment to the Superintendent's employment contract for July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026.
Amendment to the General Counsel's employment contract for July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.