Ahoy Minnotonka. I'm Jackie Yedi, executive director of communications for Minnotonka schools and your host of AOY Minnotonka season 3. I'm joined today by Superintendent of Schools David Law, school board chair Key Foss, and school board vice chair Dan Olsen to talk through the year from the lens of our district leaders. Thank you to the three of you for being here. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Superintendent Law. The last time that we spoke here on the podcast, it was a couple weeks ago and now we're into the final few days of the school year. So, what is on your mind? What are the biggest things fill in your calendar as we finish off the year? >> It's a lot of celebrations, community connections, you know, certainly graduation coming up or, you know, events like the middle school presidential awards or capstone events or Vantage culminating events or the research event. Certainly, there's no shortage of athletic end of season things. It's a chance to be visible, to see our students in their prime, connect with the community. It's just a really fun time. The these they're busy weeks, but they're very fun. >> The schoolboard has actually been at quite a few of the events as well. What are some of the things that you've been able to attend and and what do you get out of those? >> I mean, I think the celebration of excellence is always a highlight. You know, we get to come together as a group and wonderful >> celebrate all the adults that make a difference in this district. You know, I think we spend so much time talking about the kids. It's nice to take a minute to acknowledge all the grown-ups here who make this possible for everybody. >> And the concerts, the um elementary school orchestra concerts and the choir concerts have all been wonderful to see all the students and they're excited about all they've been learning, too. So, that's been fun. >> That was fun to see how many of the teacher appreciation things you were showing up for. There were a lot of board members going classroom to classroom. That was a lot of fun to see. So, thank you for all your involvement. Camry and Dan, the school board has set its goals for the upcoming school year. As you look back, how do you think the district has done in achieving its current goals? Excellence in well-being, excellence in well-being, connection, and belonging. Excellence and innovation in student learning and support, and excellence in leadership and organizational support. >> Well, these goals are always under continuous improvement, and we they evolve year-over-year. Uh I will give you a really good example from our last study session. Uh Dr. Amy Leoo gave us some really good data on our immersion program and over more than I think it was more than 75% of our immersion students when they graduate from the year 2026 will have earned the bilingual seal either the gold or the platinum bilingual seal when they graduate. So that's some really significant data that that ties directly to that board goal of student learning and support. So that's that's a really good continuous improvement I would say. >> Yeah, I think we've we've got one of the best public school districts in the state, right? And so I think that's definitely a signal like of of our level of achievement and I think that's what we want public education to look like across Minnesota. But it's something that we can't ever sleep on. We can't take our eye off the ball. And that's why our goals are sort of a living document that evolve from year to year and change based on the needs of the community and how education's changing. >> That was one of my questions was do they evolve a lot or do they maybe just the action steps under them evolve? How do you determine like what are the action pieces we're working on? >> So there's some anchor work that will take multiple years. You know, one example might be elementary literacy. That's a three or four year process of uh training our teachers using new materials. Next year it'll be new materials in our immersion classrooms and then behind that we'll be focusing on math again. So um those are multi-year pieces where what we we want to see steady improvement but will never be done. Um, if you look at something like well-being, connection, and belonging, we have longitudinal data that shows that like at our high school, we're doing a better and better job ensuring students feel connected to our staff and our staff feel like they're building student connections, but we'll never be done because we're going to graduate seniors and pick up another group of freshmen. So, that's ongoing work. To make sure we're making that progress, we we look at our student data. We look at our achievement data or whether it be reading or math or graduation rates or immersion data. We look at parent survey data. We're in the middle of a parent survey right now on are we meeting our parents expectations? What are their comments for improvement and we'll never be done supporting students in bullying prevention? Because every year we have a new group of students that's going to need to learn how to be in our schools and kids have bad days. That'll always be a goal that we're doing everything we can to prevent bullying from happening in our schools. But we use that data and uh parents feedback steers a lot of that data. Our board goals are a reflection of what our community says are priorities. >> So what are some of the biggest year-over-year changes underneath those current goals? >> Uh well the board recently approved board goals. You know one of the things we heard a year ago was about cell phones and uh a lot of concerns about cell phones and access to cell phones. And we had been a no cell phones elementary school, minimal cell phone use and middle schools and in high school they shouldn't be in classes. We really doubled down on that this year and we heard great feedback from kids across the system. Kids, you know, kids lose their self-discipline and so it we won't be done as long as cell phones are coming to school and parents are setting them. We're going to need to have systems to support it. A huge shift over probably the last nine months. our our community last summer said we're really wanting to make sure you're monitoring technology use during the day over the last you know probably two months that has really come up is uh community members have said please don't continue to expand this use unbridled. So, we're doing a reset. You know, you're going to see in our board goals, you know, clear expectations for what should be happening during the school day. Certainly, our youngest learners using much less technology. Elementary using technology considerably less. Middle school scaling back use. Clear expectations for teachers, helping parents understand how to how to minimize access to things that kids shouldn't be doing. You know, better lines of communication that way. clear expectations about how much time should your child be spending on their technology at school and all of that. We won't be done. We'll launch with that and we'll communicate and then we'll monitor and then adjust again. But I think that's probably one of the biggest year-over-year shifts is across the country you're seeing this push back like, hey, let's pull back on technology in schools and we want to lead the way in that. >> That's great. Any other things that stand out to the two of you in shifts that you've seen? I I know that community engagement was a really big push last year has been over the years and that there have been more opportunities for different stakeholders to really provide input and that finances have also been a a constant push with what can the legislature do to help us. Uh and what can we do to help ourselves? So, we'll talk a little bit more too about some of those efforts we have coming up. >> Yeah, finances I think are always a big piece of work for the district. It's a it's a big public institution. There's a lot of spending that we're responsible for and the you taking care of our kids' education is a pretty sacred trust. I mean, it's it's why we're all here. And I'm I'm of the personal view that the budget is everything because how we spend our money reflects our values. And we spend, you know, nearly 90% of our our dollars on um on student education and on personnel in this district and trying to make a a difference in our students day-to-day lives. But there are only so many things we can control. A lot of that money comes for the legislature and thankfully we've got a group of very active uh parents who engage with the legislature regularly on the case committee. Um and on the on the the community outreach and everything piece, I think that's I mean that's been an evolution, but it's been a really good change the past year. I think our goals don't evolve the way they do and we don't incorporate feedback around technology the way we do unless we're out there and actively engaging with our our community. And can we always do a better job? Probably. But um we try to be out there as much as possible. We try to listen. We try to be responsive. Mhm. And that's one of the things I've really embraced being the chair this year and I've learned more about is the community emails that I receive that I'm that's I'm responsible for responding to emails and that has been um not overwhelming but it has been a learning curve for me but it's allowed me to interact with the community as part of what Dan is saying and it's been very um enjoyable to see the thoughtful process that our community is really engaging and it shows me that they are dedicated ated to keeping our district excellent and that's been a really um enjoyable piece for me as well. >> So, Camry, first time as chair. Were there any big surprises in that role? Was there more work in one area than you thought there would be or how did it go? How's it been, I guess, your your midyear? >> Yes, it's been great. It's been a a learning process for me. I've really enjoyed working with these two um primarily and with you, Dr. Getty, as well. Um it's like I said just in engaging with the community in in a more of a um transparent fashion when I get personal emails and being able to communicate transparently directly with them and saying this is exactly what's going on and we're listening to you and um reach out anytime has been uh really eye opening for me. I've really enjoyed that. I'm so passionate about Minnetonka and I I love going into the classrooms and seeing where the magic happens and it's just been an honor to do it. So Dan, as vice chair, you're in planning meetings with these two um to talk about what's going to be on the agendas, what are things that are top of mind, and then too, you've served as treasurer, so you've been on the citizens finance committee as the representative from the board. What do you value most about the opportunity to serve? And what are the some of the things that you've learned from those roles so far? Um, one of the great things is that in a in a board like this, there are sort of roles for everybody based on their skill sets and their interests. You know, I sort of came on really interested in the budget and finance and spent a couple years as the treasurer. Um, being the vice chair now, you're sort of at a a position where, you know, with the chair, a lot more information flows through you and you're you're privy to a little more behind-the-scenes work that goes into the district on the um cabinet and administrative level. And that really helps to be able to just bring that additional level of knowledge to community conversations and let people know what's going on, what we are talking about and working on. And um it it gives you an avenue to bring things back to the district as well outside of just specific committees. >> So you've both spent a little time on the board now. Um, has your perspective of what the board is shifted at all or is it, you know, like I came on as an individual, I was elected as an individual. We're a board as a group of people now. How does that shape what you do or how you how you work? >> It's important. I've I've realized um just being starting from when my children were in kindergarten and volunteering through all I have a graduate now who's going to be walking across the stage how important this this work really is and how important it is to have such strong leadership and connection to the community um and having a really strong working relationship with our board like we do. There's not there's not just one person, right? It's really important to have trust in each other and and get the job done. It's the students who matter. That's why we're all here. >> Yeah. I mean, I think I think people can be motivated to do something like this and run for elected office for a lot of different reasons, but once you land where we are and you're in the position to govern, it it's really about communicating effectively and working effectively as a team. And um you know, we have hard conversations and frank conversations. That's why we're here. But uh our job is to push through those and get to the other side and figure out what's best for the district and then in lock step just do that as a team and help the administration give them what they need to do the best for our students. >> Well, from a side view, it's impressive to watch it. You know, you know that people come from different perspectives, different ideas. You bring different things to the table and then just to watch you all work through it, it's really impressive. So last time we spoke superintendent law the state's legislative session was still going on. How did that wrap up? Was there any positive feedback for or news I guess for public education? >> You know it was a nonfunding session. So our expectations were tempered. We would really um I had said back in January when I met with our community advisors or their community support group, we're laying the foundation for the next year's funding session. And we had many opportunities to connect with our elected officials. Some of them tech text me weekly or email weekly and you know we have people who have testified at the capital. Paul Bourgeois is a very wellrespected voice in the capital who testified on some of the things that we're working on. Um I feel confident that we got inroads into the capital. You know one of the things that we're going to have to be very intentional about is it's an election year and there's a going to be a lot of turnover in both the house and the senate Minnesota. So, we are going to be working in September just letting the community know here are things that are important to Minnotonka. As you talk with elected officials as they come door knocking, make sure that you ask these questions. How prepared are they to give our local community the ability to fund our school system? Because the state has a deficit budget. They're going to be cutting from education, not adding to it in the next bienium. So, our community continues to say, "How can we help ourselves?" We need to ask our elected officials, are you prepared to give communities the chance to support themselves? That that is the big question. This session, um, one of the things that came through is going to be a vote on the ballot in November about the education land trust. That that could have a a hundreds of thousands of dollars swing for us. It's certainly, you know, our budget over the next five years is looking to be seven or eight million dollars in deficit spend. We need a couple different strategies to close up that hole. That will be a little piece of it. it won't be the answer. You know, people will vote yes on that and it won't raise taxes necessarily. It's a a land trust that they're going to invest in differently, but every $300,000 counts towards that $8 million deficit. That was probably one of the few positives out of this session. That and a lot of discussions about what needs to happen next year. >> Budget cuts are hard and we hear about it in other districts. We hear about some districts. It's every year. I know we've had a couple of hard years. Now it looks like for this next year, no cuts. >> No. And then going forward, we'll see. >> Yeah. Twice in the last 20 years, and we'd like it to be. Those would be the only two for the next 20 years, the board has taken some steps by making some slight enrollment adjustments. But we really need the legislature hasn't touched the two funding streams that are locally driven, the board approved levy and the voter approved levy for over a decade. And about every 10 years, they have to say, "Okay, let's bring this back up to what current dollars mean." And that that's the biggest piece. for the legislature could make a bigger jump in year-over-year investments rather than the 2 and a.5%. You know, we really need five or 7% one time to get a catch-up. >> And that's across across public school districts >> across every district in the state. If they're not going to do that, they have to reopen local communities ability to support themselves >> to just for us to ask the question, >> right? At least ask. >> So, school finances, as you said, and keeping the budget balanced are always on our minds. Um, at the last schoolboard meeting, we learned about a Minnotonka school's perpetual endowment trust fund. What is it? How does it work? And is it a unique thing? Does anybody want to take that one on? >> It is unique. Uh, and it's an opportunity to do what we can as a district to look out for the long-term finances of our district and to try to help the general fund as much as possible given what Superintendent Law just spoke to about the the budgetary challenges facing public education. We have something like this in our district already, the other postemployment benefits fund. That's sort of like a retirement benefits fund, but it's managed the same way. Paul Bourgeois manages that and it's an investment fund that we used to we use to pay for certain and retirement benefits and we've been able to tap it for other things like the Vantage Momentum building and things like that. Uh this fund would be different. This would be more like a traditional trust fund where folks could dedicate a sum of money to the district and we would never touch that. But eventually the amount of money in the fund would grow so big that we could start to use some of the interest that that fund earns to help our budget and help our programming and pay for things that we're having trouble paying for elsewhere. This is not something that's going to happen and we're going to see a benefit in the next two years or five years. But the goal is for folks who have a long tie to this district and who are concerned about the long-term future of this district to give them an opportunity to invest in public education in a more direct way. >> So it could be a small gift, could be a large gift, could be a legacy gift that you give. Is that kind of >> It really is. We've had some very generous donations to the tune of millions of dollars from certain community organizations. That type of donation could could be a permanent fund of $500,000 to our district 15 years from now. Giving that board at that point in time, another avenue to maintain the exceptional programming in Minnitonka. This isn't an investment today for next year. This is an investment today for five or 10 years from now or 15 years from now for the board to say, you know, our um elementary navigators program is premier and we don't want to lose it. this is going to be an investment to make sure that that stays or our immersion programming or our Tonka research. The board can choose at that time which program they want to make sure lasts. This is just an investment in the legacy of exceptional programs in Minnotonka so that in tighter budget times down the road there's an opportunity. >> So the money out of this fund, the money that is earned like from the from the interest in this fund is that and then it could actually go into the operational budget for a future year. It it doesn't have to be dedicated like to a scholarship. >> No, it it could be at the board's future discretion. I mean, the loose parameters are the exceptional programming that we offer uniquely in Minnetonka. And we create that fund so that people know I'm investing that in the baseball team or the theater program. I'm investing in the day-to-day educational programming for the future in perpetuity. the board sets a idea of where it can go and then a future board would say okay within these parameters this is how we feel this money is best spent this year >> right >> but the corpus or whatever it's called that main pocket of money that people have given you never touch right >> no so we've we've got a lot of a lot of current problems and things that we wrestle with and current responsibilities but like boards before us who established the foundation for uh the district's you know health that it is today through open enrollment or created innovative programs like our Spanish and Chinese immersion programs. Those were things that didn't pay dividends right away at the time, but they they they were a foundation for the future. And so, while we're wrestling with the problems that we have to dayto-day and yeartoear, we also want to keep our eye down the road and do everything that we can to invest in the future of this district. >> Well, future boards and future families, I think, are going to be pretty excited about this. So, I'm excited to see how that catches on and grows. Um, I know that input from our stakeholders, we've talked about this so far, our students, our families, our staff and parents, um, is really important to our schoolboard and to our district administration. Currently, the use of technology and student learning and particularly the use at the youngest learning levels is on the minds of many parents. Is it a hot button suddenly or is this something we've heard for a while? >> It's been building. I think that this is a national topic like our our there are state leader or state school leaders talking about this. There was national webinars about this. School districts are starting to scale back. So, it's not surprising that when you expand opportunities, at some point you hit a limit. And I think for for certainly, uh, some of our parents, we've hit that. And we hear it and we see it within our own classroom. And so, um, I think we're constantly evolving with how we deliver instruction. And this is probably a reality check that that has expanded too far and we need to pull back. We hear it from teachers, too. It isn't just parents. prek or K experience might be minimal to nothing and the senior experience might be much more rich because they're going to be launching into a world that's much more digital and we we need to look at that and say even at our senior and high school level how much of that can still be tactile paper and pencil. So um we it's been on our minds we've been giving teachers directions about if you can do it if you have the option consider paper and pencil. However, um there's no cost-free solution here. When we we used to pay for textbooks and textbooks used to run $150 to $300 a textbook and they'd get outdated in a year. We buy less textbooks be because we'd buy digital subscriptions if we stop using digital subscriptions. Those funds will go back to textbooks that get outdated quickly. So, uh you know, there's a there isn't a necessarily a straight cost savings to this. There's just a how do we help our teachers make this transition to be age appropriate with technology conscious of what kids best you know as their pedagogical learning accelerates through the system how much technology is appropriate at each level and acknowledging like um there if if we could save millions of dollars by stopping using technology and deliver high quality experience for students that would be we would do it right. We we think we're being very costefficient and best practice and we're constantly learning. We know more about education today than we did 10 years ago. So, we'll behave differently >> and every year it evolves a little bit, right? And adjust with that. Is this a majority of parents that are saying, "I want a lot less technology or we don't we don't know." >> Well, um you know, we're just doing a parent survey. We'll probably learn more over the summer how broad the parent voices on this. We don't want to discount any parents that have concerns and we want to make sure we acknowledge that. Certainly, if we looked at last year's parent survey, the vast majority acknowledged that technology was an important part of their kids' education. Well over 70% I think up into the 70 or 80% even on statewide surveys. Now, we don't have that data for this summer. That could have swung significantly, but we don't want to discount even if it's 200 parents, >> right? >> We want to be able to make sure we're providing their expectations are met also. So, is it too early to ask what steps the district's taking to address concerns that have been shared? >> We want to meet with our teachers about what's realistic. And then our goal is prior to the start of the school year at a board meeting, we'd be sharing, you know, here's here's what you should be expecting because parents want to know what should I expect, how do I partner, how do we, you know, for parents that don't want their tech their iPads to come home, how do we support those parents? for parents that want to know how do I limit my child's access to things? How are we, you know, we are constantly providing thicker firewalls to prevent students from accessing things they shouldn't? And how do we partner with parents so they know what their child what app should they be using? Um, that should be a big step forward in the fall. >> Yeah, sounds good. Um, the district has launched a citizens academy and has opened up applications for adults in our residential and parent and alumni communities to be a part of it. So, Superintendent Law, do you want to tell us just a little bit more about this new initiative? And then I'd love to hear from each of you about why you think this is important. Well, um, the board has a goal of engaging the community in a variety of fashions. And we know that every time community members get to see behind the curtain, like when we went through the facility task force and had 25 community members go through every one of our buildings for an intense period of time, you know, really two or three hours a night all summer long, those people came back and said, "Oh my gosh, there, you know, they recommended almost $200 million in improvements. we uh presented to the voters and got approval this year thankfully for 85 million. But all of those people consistently said there's need to meet the needs of our current students. So we our past practices when we invite people in and they can understand what's happening, they become advocates. They we hear their questions, it helps us message and communicate like oh that's a perception people have. we should. So, we're doing this to get another group of 20 or 25 people into our system to understand our system and help us spread the message and also to hear their feedback about, oh, I that's so different than what I thought was happening in transportation or in nutrition services. So, that's we're using a model that we've used in other fashions, but this is going to be rather than one area like wellness or nutrition services or facilities, it's going to be in all areas. And at the end of the year, they're going to be a certified citizens academy graduate. >> It's exciting. >> I love it. I think it's it's such a great way to bridge the district to the community and build that deeper connection. I think it's a great idea. I'm I'm looking forward to it. >> Yeah. I mean, I don't I don't know that there's much that I've done that's been more fulfilling than working for the district and helping, you know, look out for the education, the future of our kids. I think it's it's been fantastic for me personally and I think it's uh an opportunity any community member should jump at because this is public education, right? It belongs to our community. It belongs to them. It's their investment and we all believe in it because we all want this for our kids. So, it's an opportunity for everyone to, you know, pitch in and help, you know, row that boat in the same direction so we can make sure our kindergarteners have uh what our seniors have right now. >> That's right. >> Limited spots, right, Jackie? >> That's right. That's right. I think we'll we'll invite in up to 25 people for the Citizens Academy. So, that's as many as we can accommodate for this first cohort, and we'll see how that goes. We hope we get lots of applicants. So great. >> Um, as you mentioned earlier, graduation is here and by the time this podcast airs, uh, it will be just about to happen. What, uh, do each of you look forward to most at graduation? It's one of my favorite things about being a superintendent. Our students, you know, coming across the stage, that moment of being in front of everyone is can be nerve-wracking for students, but to hear their parents so proud and to see those students so happy to turn this corner in their life, hoping that so many of them, you know, I ideally 100%, but hoping they're all excited, well prepared. It is one of my favorite moments. and and students generally speaking, it's one of the most joyous moments that they've had. >> It is so joyful. That was the word that came to my mind and it literally is making me nervous and excited to think about it because I remember my first one and I remember saying to superintendent law afterwards I just said what an overwhelmingly joyful experience that was just to see all of those years of hard work and dedication come to the to the forefront of all those happy joyful hearts. It's it's a wonderful wonderful time. I think public education and our public schools is it it's just the most optimistic um joyful institution we've got in our state and to sort of be there for graduation and see the fulfillment of that optimism and and launch all those kids into a future of possibility. Um, it's I don't know. I'm just fortunate to be there. >> For me, every student that walks on the stage, we get to sit in the back row and kind of look across and get the little vantage point from the corner. But every single one of those students had a journey. Every one of them had different challenges, different supports, different ambitions. And to me, it's like the start of the the the end of this chapter of their story and the start of the next chapter of their story. And it's so exciting to they're gonna go off that stage and they're gonna do something incredible. So, that to me is really fun. Um, a final question for each of you as we head into summer. Well, first I should ask, is there anything I didn't ask about that you want to talk about? >> No, take the parent survey. It's still open. >> Nothing. >> Uh, David alluded to it earlier. It's an election year. Talk to your folks who are running for office about how important public education is to you. >> Camry, anything? I wanted to mention we were um we had one of our students on the national stage this year with us at the National School Board um uh NSBA, National School Board Association in San Antonio. Rory Shown uh was selected to present on our student board representative position. So that was really exciting. So Minnotonka got really um some national attention this year. So that was really exciting to be to be there as a highlight of our year this year. It was fun too to hear the students with their wrap-up of the pilot and what they got out of it and their hopes for next year. Um, so now a final question for you as you head into the summer. What are some things that you and your family do to celebrate summer uh in Minnesota and maybe in Minnotonka specifically? >> You know, family time, whatever that looks like, is my favorite part of summer. Uh, for me uh for my wife Beth and our boys, it's golf, it's boat time, it's bonfires, it's golfer or is it >> I nobody is impressed with my golf game, but it's very fun nonetheless. It's time and golf is about time in a cart talking to our children about what's happening in their life. And I love it's the one of the few times of the year where several hours a week I can reconnect with our kids and and just reestablish. >> I think of your grandkids as really little. Are they growing up fast? >> They are. They're going to be screaming towards middle school soon. We're gonna Yeah. a fourth grader and a a second grader. They're getting >> I'm remembering them all as three, so >> wow. Camry, >> um definitely family time. Um I have a son who just got engaged, so we'll be hopefully planning a wedding soon. And lake time for me as well. And just relaxing >> and a new graduate coming too. >> A new graduate. So, oh yes, we'll be definitely planning some college time, too. So >> tan >> uh I mean the the theme of family is pretty universal. Like it it I'll try to pull my boys out of their room and get as much time as I can with them given the fact that they're teenagers, you know, but we'll we'll get on some nice trips and pull ourselves out of the routine and and spend some time with family. We'll do some golfing. We'll get outside. Um it's just an opportunity to hopefully slow down a little bit before we all rush back into it in September. We know how much you love summer. >> Yeah. >> Well, actually, I I laugh when I think of that because we saw you bike into that one school board meeting and I'm like, it's summer. Dan's biking. So, actually, for someone who says they don't love summer as much as they love winter, >> you're a big gardener. >> So, it's there's there's reasons. >> I take advantage of what I can, but I look forward to the cooler weather to come. >> Oh, yeah. >> Well, thank you so much for each of you for being here. Uh have a great wrap to the school year. I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of you. There's lots of celebrations and things going on these next few days. Thank you so much, Superintendent Law, Chair Foss, and Vice Chair Olsen for being with us today. And thank you to those who've been listening and watching. Please send us your questions, suggestions, and ideas for podcast episodes. You can send those right to communications at minnotankaschools.org. We hope you have a wonderful, restful, and rejuvenating summer. We'll see you back here in September.