Graphs will start again in September.

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.

To comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Affordable Care Act regulations, the District uses an hourly rate for casual workers in order to accurately track the number of hours these employees work in the District. The Act requires the District to offer benefits to all employees working 30 hours or more per week. With this rate schedule, the District is able to properly track hours worked for these positions to ensure that we are applying benefits accurately and consistently. 

A summary of recommendations for hourly rates for casual workers for the 2026-2027 school year is attached.
 

The proposed preliminary budget is attached.

The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) supports and empowers Minnesota public school boards through advocacy, board development, and policy and legal guidance.

The District’s annual dues to the Minnesota School Boards Association are based on our average daily membership of students served. Dues for 2026-2027 are $11,814. This amount includes policy services.

In the past, the District has been a member of Schools Advocating for Fair Funding (SAFF). The annual membership fee is over $7,000. District administration receives much of the same information from a variety of other sources, including the Minnesota School Boards Association and the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. It is the recommendation of school administration that the District not renew its membership with SAFF.
 

The most recent transportation contract with the Owatonna Bus Company was effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027 with an option to extend the contract an additional two years upon agreement of both parties. The rates were initially set for the 2024-25 school year while the 2025-26 and 2026-27 rates were yet to be determined. It was agreed to leave the rates the same for the 2025-26 school year, and then both parties agreed to raise the rates 2.69% for the 2026-27 school year, 3% for the 2027-28 school year, and 4% for the 2028-29 school year.

The rates have been reviewed with the finance committee.

Attached are the transportation rates.
 

Minnesota school districts applying for long-term facilities maintenance revenue must annually complete the application for Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Revenue and submit it to the Minnesota Department of Education.  To qualify for Long-term Maintenance Revenue, school districts must have a 10-year plan adopted by the school board and approved by the commissioner.  The Long-Term Facility Maintenance Application is attached.

The purchase of items using federal funds (i.e. Title, School Nutrition, special education) must comply with federal standards. One of these standards is that micro-purchases, items costing less than $10,000, can be purchased without obtaining competitive quotes. This is a different standard than MN state law, which assigns micro-purchase status up to $25,000. 
 
Because Owatonna Public Schools does not have a purchasing department to evaluate each purchase proactively, these conflicting standards make it likely that staff who make federal purchases may be confused about the requirements and make a purchase between $10,000 and $25,000 without obtaining the necessary quotes. 
 
Federal law allows the school board to increase the micro-purchase limit to $50,000. To create consistent purchasing standards, the administration recommends an increase in line with MN statute, or $25,000. 
 
This action has been taken by several MN school districts. 

Attached is the resolution being considered for Board approval.
 

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.