001Okay, good evening everyone and welcome. We are the Otana School Board. This is Monday. It's March 23rd, 5:30. I'm going to call this meeting to order. Appears as though we are all here. Uh let's start with our pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Tonight we'll start with the approval of the agenda as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion on that? All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Next up would be the mission moment. I'm going to turn things over to Dr. Champa. >> All right. Thank you. Uh so this year our theme throughout the the
002entire year has been to celebrate all of our partnerships. And tonight we have the Oatana Partners for Economic Development. Um we are recognizing so we are continuing this mission moment. OPED builds on the strengths of six local organizations to meet the development needs of existing and incoming businesses, their leadership and their workforce. The organizations that make up OPED include the city of Oatana, Otana Public Utilities, Steel County, Otana Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Otana Area Business Development Center, and Otana Public Schools. These partners work together diligently to coordinate services in the area of transportation, utilities, workforce and training and planning and zoning. We appreciate the collaboration and forwardinking efforts of this group. And tonight we have Roger Warheim with us from OPU and Renee Fry from Steel County. So please come up >> and
003just a couple of words about the importance of the collaboration and then I just have a statement. >> Sure. >> There's hit the button. >> How's that? Hear me now. Okay. Thanks. Well, first of all, uh thank you school board uh for the beautiful new high school. That is a big economic development tool in our arsenal that we have now. Um, and also thank you for uh allow I don't know if allowing is the right term, but um we're glad to have Tammy on the uh OPED group as well. Um that's of course started with Jeffstead and was um I think unique to have a school board uh superintendent, not a school board, a school district superintendent. Um and I think that uh cities elsewhere in the state are jealous of us to have that
004kind of uh partnership. And I think probably school districts maybe are the same way. Like, hey, you get to get involved with with that. It's very unique. And I think it's uh one of the the great things about Owatana and our culture is that lots of cities have come and see what we do with this partnership and they can't replicate it. And the reason they can't replicate it is because everybody wants the credit. You know, the chamber wants the credit or the city wants to ch credit or the county. And we don't have that. Everybody's like, let's work together. Let's be a partnership. And uh so that's what I think makes it very unique. And the other thing that I think is interesting, especially thinking about uh Superintendent Champa joining our group, is that of
005all the people around the table, none of us were there when it began, you know, because it's been going on that many years and people have come and gone and but um we keep that continuity of partnership. So, >> and I've only been with Steel County a little less than two years, but based on my past county experience, city experience, and the like, this is very, very unique. You don't see these partners coming together in the same way. We went through a strategic planning session here not too long ago and we really found that because we're all part of economic development in some shape or fashion that our strength and and our strategic priority is to use our connections to really build upon the opportunities that exist. that we ourselves are probably not going to
006individually accomplish economic development goals, but by working together that we can use that influence to bring the right people together and having these conversations because there's impacts you don't even appreciate. But as we talk about the needs of the district and we talk about the needs of the city and how the county can support those and how the utility is a critical player to economic development that having all of those representatives together around the table, we do I think a pretty good job of identifying the challenges, but more importantly, we're about creative problem solving that everyone comes to the table with really interesting ideas about how to reach those goals. And I think we wouldn't be able to accomplish that if we didn't have the mix of talent sitting around the table that we do.
007>> And I'm just going to add being the newest seat at the table, um I was just really taken aback one of the first meetings and hearing the passion, drive, and commitment from the various entities coming together to benefit Oatana. And so just proud to be a part of that. >> Comments or questions? >> Ward, any questions, comments, anything? hearing none. I Renee Roger, thank you. Um, and thanks for maintaining that DNA strain that keeps everything alive. I think in a in a strange way we are very unique here in Otana and very fortunate to have a blue collar, a white collar and agricultural um three different economies but they seem to work very very well together and and even when we see um public and private partnerships that businesses in Oatana step up and
008and are very active with regard to the success of what you do as well. So thank you very much. And if I can just throw out the crisis we faced last fall with the potential loss of the birth center, everyone at OPED came together and said, "You made a promise to Owatana. We want to hold you to that, but more importantly, these are the impacts." And Roger was there, Tammy was there explaining to Mayo and Alina why it was so important that that service be here, be maintained and continued. And so again, it's just a just one example of many that having all of those forces come to bear to show that there's impacts to our residents across all of the different service deliveries that we have. And I I'm hopeful that we'll continue in
009that way. >> Again, thank you for being here with us. >> Thanks so much. Thank you. >> I expect to see this prop. Thank you. >> As we move on, item five tonight is public form. I want to double check with Sarah one more time. Any no cards? Okay, we're going to move on. Item six, this is just general information. Uh do any of you have a question for Dr. Champa as it relates to the enrollment report? It was part of your weekend update as well as the u part of your packet. Hearing none. Okay, we're going to keep on going. Item seven tonight. Uh this is just board forum. Uh Jolene, if you don't mind, I'll start over on your side. Anything with regard to committee reports? >> Um policy committee met last Wednesday
010and are continuing to review and update and there's a whole list of the first review. So all very minimal adjustments but >> right >> doing the work. >> Yep. Um yeah nothing beyond that. >> No nothing. >> They've already covered it. >> Yeah. And um uh facilities has not met since then either. >> No, >> I don't have a facility or anything update. I was able to go to a couple concerts over the last week and another one still this week and it's been fun to see those both sixth grader like young kids and the older kids all performing together on stage. >> Nice. >> Good. Elizabeth, anything? >> Yep. Uh on April 7th, we have our last ALC student advisory meeting. Uh May 7th, we have our last Otana Middle School advisory meeting. And
011then May 15th, we have our uh Otana High School um advisory meeting. Lo will kind of get into more detail about um the feedback that he received on um March 11th, the last OTN High School advisory meeting. Um, but the main update I have for the board is Ozan High School is hosting. Uh, I want to say it second ever state uh, state conference for um, Minnesota State High School's. It's going to be from April 11th to the 13th with the theme being glow um, growth, leadership, opportunity, opportunity, and willingness. and just an incredible experience to be able to uh host I want to say the largest leadership conference for um OTN High School students to be able to um actively contribute to you know fostering leadership of all types and to have Otana be
012the center of that this year is pretty special. >> Are you do you have a sense of how many you'll see in attendance? So, usually we have about 500 people in attendance and I want to say each school has about five representatives. So, um we usually get schools from all over the state. >> Aub are those student council reps or those student correct like general student >> council student council reps. >> Nice. Um, so like Aub said last it was two weeks ago I had an advisory meeting at the high school. Um, there were surprisingly I guess I shouldn't say surprisingly there were very uh a large number of positive reviews. There weren't too many um striking factors that any of the students had. Um, we discussed some stuff with the phone policy. Um, which
013was very interesting. They did all agree though that, um, it was the definitely the underclass men who struggled the most, particularly freshmen. Um, coming up from the middle school, they seem to see that freedom and take advantage of it. And that's where we're seeing the big spike. And then once it gets up into the upper classmen, they seem to figure it all out. Um, but there were some students who said they think the best option would be to completely remove phones, which I thought was very interesting. Um, the only other big topic that I thought about mentioning was they did say there is still a significant uh problem with vaping in the student bathrooms. And so we did discuss ways to solve that, but they've still seen an onslaught of kids in their vaping. Um,
014but besides that, very positive reviews. >> Good gentlemen. Thank you. Um, anybody have any questions or comments as it relates to the work session and the report that we had in our packet? That I don't hear anything. And then um policy committee, there were a couple of policies where there were pretty significant changes, like a lot of changes and a couple of them where they looked pretty cursory. Anything you want to just lift up or mention? >> Um I did take a look at these. I will admit it's been a few months. We I don't remember when we looked at these, maybe two months ago. >> Um most everything was fairly prescriptive, so I don't have any specific comments. If there's a policy that you wanted to call out, we could certainly call on um
015district staff too who may have more insight. >> My recollection is even if there might have been like significant changes, they were all legislative kind of um statutory. >> Yes. >> So it wasn't like we were making changes for change sake. They were all to reflect uh changes from the legislature. >> The only Go ahead. The only other um item I would call out and again this is first reading so we can take a look at it and you know discuss further. The procurement policy had some open issues in there. Um those have been completed with the specific job titles and so forth that were >> Oh yeah. Yeah. >> So you might have seen um some yellow highlights and so forth. So >> those have been updated maybe since um you last saw this
016but you could take a look at that before we approve next time. >> Anybody else questions? hearing none. All right. Um item B tonight, administrative report. I'll turn things over to Dr. Champa. >> Uh sure. Just highlight probably don't need to remind anyone that uh spring break is next week and so we start out with those important dates and then district uh highlights just a reminder of the state of the district. Um, of course, our inclement weather last week. And then, um, what I wanted to add though is the Otana business brief, which just came out, also highlights our students with their work with the shops at Rose Street. So, those sheds that will be a part of that will be built by our students. So, um, that's not included in here, but I wanted
017to include that or that up. And then you have all of the individual reports from our, um, buildings and from our cabinet. Any questions? All right, hearing none. Uh, item eight tonight would be the consent agenda. Quick reminder, we are approving the minutes from February 23rd and March 9, dispersement and personnel reports. Any of you have any reason to pull any of these out? >> Um, Mark, I just thought it might be helpful. I had a um nice exchange with Mr. Sts um about the treasures report. I don't know if you want to just have a brief discussion on that. We can certainly approve it all. I don't think there's a reason to pull it out. >> Do you want to expand upon your thoughts? >> Sure. >> Do you want to just explain the
018the issue? I mean, as you're coming up, I'll mention so when you look at the treasures report, there's this nice bar grid, and I always examine that and just make sure we're kind of in line with where we've been historically. And as you see on there, we've kind of moved, you know, three percentage points or three and a half or something. So, I was asking um Director Stats about that. Maybe you can explain. So the biggest challenge >> I don't there you are. >> So the biggest challenge this year is obviously we had the operating levy in November and so our bargaining groups chose to wait until the operating levy was completed before we started negotiations this year. So it it's maybe a little later than what it traditionally is in terms of we still
019don't have all the all the groups uh settled with new contracts. And so instead of taking the amended budget to the board every time we have a settlement, we decided we'll wait until we finished all the all the groups and then we'll bring a final amended budget to the board. Well, with that, the budget hasn't been updated. And so, we know there's things like grants and so forth that have come in during the year that we've spent money on, but we haven't included those in the budget yet because they won't be included until we do an amended budget. So, percentage- wise, it looks like we're spending a higher percentage at this point in time in the year than what we have in previous years when in reality, we haven't. because in previous years we would
020have already brought an amended budget to the board. So I I hope that explains things. You know, another line item that maybe um was a little bit confusing was in employee benefits. It looks like we're paying a higher percentage of the budget than what we have in salaries. Well, what happened when we did the original budget is we just put a line item in there for all salary settlements, all benefit settlements, and so there isn't a budget line item for benefit settlements. And so it looks like we've spent a higher percentage. That'll all get corrected, I hope, when the amended budget comes through. And with there are four tonight pending approval. To the extent that those are approved, how many more do you have left after that? >> We have two left. Uh we have
021custodians left and um paras. Otherwise, we either have tenative agreements or final agreements with all the other groups. >> Okay, >> great. Thank you for that. I appreciate it. >> Yep, that was a good question. >> Well, it just struck me. So, >> yep. Any other questions? >> All right. I'm think we're still waiting for an um a motion to approve. >> Oh, sorry. So, we're approving all items, including all the um >> minutes to dispersement on the personnel. >> We're just on the consent. >> Consent agenda. >> Oh, sorry. >> I jumped the gun. Okay. >> I move that the board approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Andrea, if you would. >> Sure. Jolane >> I >> Lori >> I >>
022Ron >> I >> Tim >> I >> Mark >> I >> Elizabeth >> I >> and I am an I that's seven >> carries very good item nine tonight there a couple of items that need board action the first would be item A 2027 20228 school calendar Dr. Champa, if you would. >> Yes. So, you have in front of you the proposed school calendar for 2728 and director Sullivan, if you would like to speak to that at all and just a huge um thank you to her and all of her work in bringing that to the committee. Um really because of all the work that's done ahead of time, that meeting is relatively short. So, um, Director Sullivan brought forward three calendars and after a very short discussion, this was the one that was recommended
023unanimously to move forward. >> Anything to add? >> Yeah, I don't really have anything to add. Um, we work pretty closely with the union um to make sure that everything kind of falls in line with their expectations and the contracts and and then we hit the days within, you know, the parameters that we have. So, I think it's a pretty straightforward contract. I think we had to add one holiday after we left which didn't didn't affect the teachers. Um it affected some other employee groups but otherwise everything is good to go. I stopped to see um Jeff Williams today with the fact sheet and he said everything looks great. So I think we're good. And the committee did also look at so this year we did a calendar survey and we had 457 I believe
024responded to that and so that was all taken into account as well. knowing that we can't fully meet um the desires of how that survey turned out. We wouldn't have enough days. >> Yeah, we would be starting late and ending early with spring break and lots of time off at Christmas. So, you know, I don't know what the problem was with that one, but you know, >> so good feedback as far as the importance of spring break and things like that. So, um >> yeah, >> good information. >> It's always good. Now we have that on the record you know for until we do another survey down the road just what you know where people stand with different breaks in school. So >> and I know we emailed can you just reiterate just what the
025conversation we emailed about about kids who are in 4 and FFA who are showing at the state fair prior to um so some of those kids might be impacted in that FFA group at least. >> Yes. and that is um just like any other school type event that they will be excused for that. So this year and the next year those are two years that the uh state has recognized because of the timing of Labor Day that districts have the ability without meeting the additional threshold of starting early. >> Very good. Any other questions? >> Yeah, just one. Um can you speak to like teacher learning days? You know, the last few years we've we've had to amend and add some additional teacher learning days. Are those incorporated in this calendar already or >> No.
026So, in 2728 we're back to what the contract states for regular professional development days. As of right now, we don't have any other requirements from the state of any other readact groups that need to go through. So, this next school year 2627, we should have everybody completed because that is phase two, which will be our 612 language arts teachers. And so we've made some adjustments to that calendar, but as of right now, we don't have anything to take off for the 2728 school year. >> Sounds great. Thank you. >> Anything else? Ron, you're looking closely. Is there anything that you saw in there that >> December 23rd again? I think you know what I know we had and I know what I brought up last time but and I had a couple people share a
027similar concern that Andre brought up about just with people a lot of kids that we we have a decent amount of kids that are involved showing at the state fair. Um and so that impacts them. But I think, you know, I think unless we go back to the Romans and ask them to add more days in the middle of the calendar somewhere, we can't really we have to start before Labor Day and uh finish after Memorial Day, unfortunately. I think to do what we need to do, >> right? It would be a pretty late start to the school year that year. I think it would be September 8th, you know, if we push it off until after Labor Day. And then so that means the end of the year hits probably like June 9th or
02810th and >> try to fit within there, you know, what's reasonable and what families and and uh the unions want as well. >> But doesn't it doesn't it help they come in kind of get their bearings Labor Day, collect their get their breath, and hit the ground running? >> I I like the early start. Um, you know, I wouldn't be opposed to going earlier than that as some school districts do, like Albert Lee does. Um, so there are some districts that start earlier than that, but it it's kind of nice. You get that first week of school out of the way. You have a little long weekend in there and then you come back and you're you're rolling. Y >> good. Any other questions? >> Elizabeth, do you happen to have this one queued up,
029ready to go? >> I move that the board approve the 2027 2028 school calendar as presented. Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? >> That motion carries. Item B, there is a revision to the 2026 2027 school calendar. I'll ask Dr. Champa to give us a quick explanation. >> Sure. Just a couple of things there that we're looking at. So, there's a change in a student contact date for 612 on February 12th to a PD day to help accommodate the redact training that we were just uh discussing for our 612 language arts teachers. and then a change on 4:30 to a non- studentent day to accommodate we will be hosting the big nine music uh next year which has not
030been hosted here in Otana since 1314. So we're excited about that. And then the final change is on the last day of school for an early release for our 912 students only to accommodate graduation rehearsal because the last day of school will also be graduation which they usually have a little buffer there. So the recommendation is to allow for that to be an early release for 912 only. >> Do you have any questions? Does that does that affect the high school then? Because it's all three seem to affect the high school as far as days. We're okay. >> So yes, >> I was going to go on to talk about how many days per semester and yes, we trust you. >> Anybody else question? Would you happen to have this? >> I do. I move
031that the board approve the revised 2026 2027 school calendar as presented. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? >> That motion carries. Item C. There is an extended trip request to Washington DC in Philadelphia. >> All right. So, this is for our seventh and eighth grade students. The trip will take place June 7th through the 12th. Um, this is the request for this summer. appeared to be everything was in order with the request. >> Questions? >> Are you anything to add about Washington DC or >> fabulous? >> All right, good. Tim, do you have this one? >> I move that the board approve the extended trip request to Washington DC and Philadelphia as presented. >> Second. >> We
032have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor with an I. >> I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Item D, there is a resolution regarding a reinstatement of an employee. It's a Spanish teacher. Um, turn things over to Dr. Champ and we have Chris here as well to address that if necessary. >> Sure. So, when uh decisions are made early in the year, as we really wanted to do with the budget adjustments, we do have the opportunity for some changes to unfold as we move forward. So we did experience a uh notification of a retirement which then allowed to relook at some of the reductions that were made. So this is um replacing one of the teachers that were reduced reinstating >> two things. It's always a work in progress. >> Correct.
033And number two, um, as the superintendent, that was one of the things you really wanted to >> Yes, it was. We So, this would have meant that we would not have continued with Spanish at the middle school >> and this now will allow us to continue with that. So, it was the one area that really felt like, oh, if we could only keep that and as things turned out, um, that is your action. >> Ron, would you have this one? Sure. I move that the board approve the resolution creating a 1.0 full-time or FTE K through2 Spanish teacher position and offering to recall Logan Shock is presented. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? >> Andrea, if you would. >> Sure. Um Joeline >> I >> Lori
034>> I Ron >> I >> Tim >> Hi. >> Mark >> I >> Elizabeth >> I and I and I also seven. >> That motion carries. Andrea, you're going to do the next one too. Okay. >> I even had it circled. I >> didn't mean to catch you off guard there. >> Sorry. >> Item F is a resolution again reinstating an employee. This time it' be a long-term sub and a Spanish teacher, Dr. Champa. >> Yeah. So, ironically, once again, Spanish. So, we have an upcoming retirement for half of a year, and we're able to offer a retainment with pairing that with a long-term sub um position early in the fall. So that's what this position is. So we're very excited to be able to retain >> questions. Lori, do you have it? >> Um,
035I do. Just one quick. So this is just for the remainder of the school year. >> No, this is for a long-term >> sub for the first half of the year and then it would be a Spanish position for the second half of the year. >> Excellent. Okay. Ready. I move that the board approve the resolution creating a 1.0 O FTE long-term sub K12 Spanish teacher position and offering to recall Jonathan Mirren >> as presented. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Andrea, if you would. >> I'm ready. Jolene >> I. >> Lori. >> Hi. >> H Ron. >> I. >> Tim. >> Hi. >> Mark. >> I. >> And Elizabeth. >> I. And I am. And I 70 pass. >> Yeah. Motion carries. Item F. There is
036a ratification of the 2025 2027 tenative agreement with the Oana nutrition services staff. Dr. Champa is here, Chris Pica is here, Mark Statz is here. Uh any anything you want to bring to our attention? Everything was in our packet. >> I am just going to say that our negotiators are pretty phenomenal and so I've always really pride myself in negotiations and I'm not participating and things seem to go just even that much better. So, just applaud the work that the two of them have done and uh really wanting to move forward these various contracts and if you have any additional questions, they're both here too. >> Any questions? >> Jolene, do by chance. Do you have it? >> Yep. I move that the board approve the 2025 2027 agreement with nutrition services staff and authorize
037the chair and clerk to execute the agreement on behalf of the school board. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Item G would be a ratification of the 2025 2027 tenative agreement with Yotana Principles Association. Again, Dr. Champa. >> No additional comments. >> Okay. Everything was in our packet. Elizabeth, back to you. >> Sure. I move that the board approve the 2025 2027 agreement with the Owatana Principles Association and authorizes the chair and clerk to execute the agreement on behalf of the school board. >> Second. Have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor with an I. >> I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Item H tonight would be a ratification of the 2025
0382027 tenative agreement with the Otana Educational Support Staff. That would be the health office nurses. >> Nothing further to add? >> No. No. >> Okay. >> Um maybe I'll just make a comment and again thank the two of you so much. I mean I and this is really applies to all of these contracts as they're coming across. I mean well within you know the guidelines and the hopes that we had had to kind of make this budget work and recognizing the cuts you know the um reductions we've had to make. So, um, while this one again percentage- wise might look just ever so slightly different, I think given the numbers of employees, clearly it's a it's a very it's an important group and thanks for your work. Yeah. >> Well, I think I would just
039add to it's good to see because I know they they were at our last meeting to express some frustration and I think it's it's good to see that we've, you know, been able to resolve that. So, that's I'd say that's good work by everybody involved. >> I guess I would and I thank you. um Miss Pika for just answering some questions that I had earlier as well. So, I did get that email. Um but I I think one of the things that I have questioned as we've renew or renewed these um contracts is regarding even the health insurance premiums and and wondering and I'm sure this is all part of the discussion but thinking about if the salary is going up this this much but then the insurance premiums are going up more than that.
040um that was a little bit still concerning for me from our nurs's perspective and um and I know that they chose kind of what they did based on their small group and what would benefit them the most as a group. So maybe I'm just recognizing that it's a complicated issue and insurance is really expensive and it makes the life difficult for all of us. >> And often you see each individual bargaining unit look a little bit different. Like one may come to the table and really want the majority of any dollars to be put on insurance where the next really want that to be on salary. And and so you do see some differences um based on the the needs of the bargaining unit. caught my eye as well. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Have
041this one. >> Yep. I move that the board approves the 2025 through 2020 27 agreement with the Otana Educational Support Staff, Health Office Nurses, and authorizes the chair and clerk to execute the agreement on behalf of the school board. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? >> That motion carries. Item I tonight would be compensation and benefits with individual director/supervisor. That would be non-c cabinet employees. >> Yes. No additional comments in there. Again, thank you. I move that the board approves the 2025 2026 and 2026 2027 salary and benefits package and employee guideline changes for individual director supervisor non-c cabinet employees and authorizes the chair and clerk to execute the individual agreements on behalf of the school board.
042>> Second >> motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Good opportunity. Mark Sts, Chris Pa, thank you both very much. This is >> Thank you. >> heavy lifting and um we as a board sincerely very much appreciate everything that you have done. Thank you. >> It's okay. >> No, >> it's all right. Uh item J tonight would be gifts to the district. There were uh a good number of gifts that you uh you saw in the in the report. As always, OTN a very generous community, very appreciative of everything that comes in. >> Um, >> Ron, could you make that motion for us? >> Actually, I'll pass since I'm mentioning it. So, >> Oh, well, >> I move that the board
043approve the resolution for acceptance of gifts as presented. >> Second. We have a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion? >> Andrea, one more time if you would. >> Jolane, >> I. >> Lori, >> I Ron >> I. >> Tim, >> I. >> Mark, >> I. Elizabeth I. And I I am an I. 70 pass. >> Motion carries. Last item tonight, item 10 would be to adjurnn. I will make the motion that we adjurnn. >> Second. Have a motion and a second. All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you folks. Good meeting. >> Thank you for your gift.