The Osseo Area Schools board meeting Tuesday featured extensive public comment on education support professional contract negotiations and concerns about the closure of 279 Online Elementary.

Multiple ESPs addressed the board requesting $25 per hour minimum wage, citing current wages below federal poverty guidelines. Tracy Doran, an academic intervention ESP, compared her 10-year district wage to the $25 hourly rate her daughter earned in a three-day temporary job at Target. "$25 an hour is not too much to ask," Doran told the board.

Tina Collins, a recess ESP responsible for supervising up to 150 children on playgrounds near wooded areas and major roadways, described being "overwhelmed and understaffed" while earning among the district's lowest ESP wages. Several speakers noted some new hires receive higher starting wages than current step-one employees.

Parents and staff from 279 Online Elementary also spoke against the school's closure, which affects elementary grades while secondary programs continue. Jennifer Schroer, a teacher and parent, argued the district violated state statute requiring public hearings and board votes for school closures. She said the district claims it's a "reconfiguration" rather than closure to avoid legal requirements.

The board also approved a $28,750 contract settlement with Student Management Specialists covering July 2023 through June 2025, including 5% and 3% annual salary increases. Additionally, members approved fiscal year 2025 midyear budget revisions and the 2026 operating budget, which includes adding social workers and addressing enrollment growth with contingency teaching positions.