September 26, 2022 at 5:30 PM - Regular School Board Meeting

Description: 

__ Deborah Bandel	__ Timothy Jensen	__ Eric Schuster
__ Nikki Gieseke	__ Jolayne Mohs	__ Mark Sebring
__ Lori Weisenburger
__ Superintendent Elstad	__ Student Representative Jace Forcelle   __ Student Representative Hailey Kjersten

Description:  Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner, Every Day.

Description:  The following policies are being presented for review by the full board. They have all been reviewed by the policy committee and at this time, there are no recommended changes to most of them. Only policy 202 has a minor recommended change.  The policies, as well as a summary sheet of the policies, are attached.

Policies for review only:
101.1 - Name of the School District
306 - Administrator Code of Ethics
405 - Veteran's Preference
407 - Employee Right to Know - Hazardous Substances
409 - Employee Publications, Instructional Materials, Inventions, and Creations
412 - Expense Reimbursement

Minor recommended changes:
202 - School Board Officers

Description:  If desired, items may be removed from the consent agenda by request by an individual school board member for independent consideration.  A request is timely if made prior to the vote on the consent agenda.  The request does not require a second or a vote by the school board.  An item removed from the consent agenda will then be discussed and acted on separately immediately following the consideration of the consent agenda.

Roll call vote is required as the consent agenda contains the personnel report.

Description: 

The board must take specific action to certify the preliminary levy for the 2023-2024 school year.  These taxes are collected during the calendar year 2023.  The summary printout from the Minnesota Department of Education is attached.  The largest portion (63 percent) of the school district tax comes as a result of our community’s support of our bond and operating levies.  The attached figures indicate the total school district levy will increase by approximately 6.1 percent. This compares to a 1.5 percent decrease last year. This year, the state average for school district property tax levies is increasing by .8 percent.  As a further comparison, the city is estimating a rate increase of roughly 9.0 percent, and the county is estimating a rate increase of 5.7 percent.

The Owatonna school district’s tax levy has decreased or increased less than 1 percent in 8 of the last 17 cycles. Inflation during this same period has increased by 3.2 percent.  As is the case each year at this time, these numbers are preliminary and the school district will continue to work with MDE through the next few months to finalize this data for the December final approval.  

While each individual property is unique, the total market value for all properties within the school district shows an average increase per year of 4.6 percent since 2017. The school district portion of individual property taxes is determined by the market value of all properties and the proposed levy authority.  Because most market values are changing, not all property owners will experience a similar change to their individual taxes, as compared to the total school district levy change. According to the most current available data at the Minnesota Department of Education, a $167,000 residential property owner in Owatonna pays $1,079 annually in school district taxes.  The state average tax for the same property is $1,134, and the Big 9 average is $906. By acting on this motion, the board can expect to increase the local levy authority by a forecasted amount of 6.10 percent.

Because the state typically recalculates the levy limit at least once prior to your final action at the December 12, 2022 board meeting, we ask that the Board take action here without specifying the final amount.

Description: 

Each year, school districts in Minnesota must submit to the Minnesota Department of Education an Assurance of Compliance with State and Federal laws prohibiting discrimination.  

By completing all sections of the Assurance of Compliance and Mandated Reporting, school districts provide written assurance that they do not discriminate in their use of funds provided through the Minnesota Department of Education and that they have informed all mandated reporters of their reporting duties.

This assurance is given by each district in consideration of and for the purpose of obtaining any and all federal grants, loans, contracts, property, discounts, or other federal and state financial assistance extended to the district by the U.S. Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).

By submitting the Assurance of Compliance, the district recognizes and agrees that such federal and state financial assistance will be extended in reliance on the representations, supporting information required by Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.42, subdivision 3, and agreements made in this assurance. 

Description:  Attached is an extended trip request for the national FFA convention, October 25-29.

Description:  Attached are policies with recommended changes that are being presented for a second reading and board approval. These policies were presented for a first reading on August 22.

Policies with recommended changes:
506 - Student Discipline
515 - Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records
524 - Electronic Technologies Acceptable Use
903 - Visitors to School District Buildings and Sites
950 - Public Data Requests
406 Form - Public and Private Personnel Data
 

Description: 

Policy 706 establishes guidelines for the acceptance of gifts to the District.  As specified by Minnesota Statute 465.03, the School Board may accept a gift, grant, or property only by the adoption of a resolution approved by two-thirds of its members. Any gifts accepted of more than nominal value (more than $5), shall become property of the District (Policy 421).

The gifts are listed on the attached resolution.