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This week’s ISD 197 School Board meeting included updates on equity, wellness, environmental improvements, and a number of recognitions.
Equity Updates
The administration gave an update on the Equity Advisory Committee and specific strategic target updates for the focus on equity.
- The Equity Advisory Committee has increased numbers and representation among its members, including more students, more parents/guardians, more staff, and expanded representation, including LGBTQ+, East African, Jewish and Muslim, and Latinx.
- Strategic target work includes recruiting more diverse students to extracurricular activities (currently nearly 60% of high school students participate in at least one activity), principal training for diverse hiring, fully implementing the AMAZEworks curriculum—which teachers say has increased conversations and respect among students—making common spaces more culturally welcoming, and creating a new superintendent student advisory group.
Student Representative LaRae Dodson highlighted the importance of diversity work: “The school I was previously at said draw yourself and handed me all beige crayons. I said, ‘Do you have any other color?'” She lauded the diversity of students, resources, and leadership in the district.
Live Green Update
The sustainability program Live Green gave an update, which included district infrastructure, practices, and classroom engagement.
- Infrastructure: ISD 197 was one of 17 school districts across the country recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for efficient and healthy schools. The district is in the bottom 5% for energy usage, having brought costs down 10% and use down 7%—resulting in $1.2 million in savings. The next step is water conservation, since water use has increased 73% since 2019. New smart water sensors for irrigation will be installed to cut down on watering.
- Practices: The district is exploring reducing single-use plastic in the cafeterias, including adding dishwashers and reusable silverware and trays. Half the district’s trash is generated by the food service department. Dakota County offers a 75% grant for dishwashers that will help with costs.
- Landscape management: Nine out of 10 sites have vegetable gardens this spring. The district is working to replace ash trees, with 75% currently removed. Heritage is the hardest hit. They’re working to replace the trees with diverse species and growing their own to reduce costs. There are currently 30 saplings at Two Rivers waiting for a new home. They’re also working on drought tolerant landscaping with a new rain garden coming to Two Rivers next to the student parking lot. The district is also working to reduce salt usage in the winter while maintaining safety.
“It’s my first superintendency, so it took me a while to figure out this is not normal,” said Superintendent Peter Olson-Skog. “There is a depth of expertise here that you just don’t find other places. … And as Mark [Fortman] always says, we’re saving energy to support the classroom.”
Wellness Committee Update
A trio of district staff serving on the Wellness Committee gave an update:
- The state’s free lunch program has meant 38% more breakfasts served and 20% more lunches, amounting to about 600 more breakfasts and 800 more lunches each day.
- Wellness initiatives happening across the district, including water bottle stations, a lactation room, exercise classes and outdoor equipment, work to eliminate single-use plastic, walk and bike to school days, hand-washing campaign, 100-mile club, dental health, and more.
Recognitions
The board recognized the following groups:
- A trio of Garlough fourth graders earned second place out of 1,516 teams from across the state in the Minnesota Zoo’s ZOOMs STEM Design Challenge. The students designed a new enclosure for the bison and prairie dogs.
- “The hope at Two Rivers is for every student to find a space to belong,” said Two Rivers Principal Al Johnson. So when a group of students approached him about launching an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) club he enthusiastically supported it. So far the group of about 20 students meets monthly and helped put on last weekend’s Cinco De Mayo event with ALMAS. The group is one of 16 new clubs at the high school.
- Forty Two Rivers High School students passed the state’s bilingual and multilingual seals test, which recognizes proficiency in a language other than English. The program has grown from just three students in 2020 to 40 students today, with two languages in 2020 and seven represented today (including Amharic, Somali, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Slovak).
- Superintendent Olson-Skog also highlighted that U.S. News & World Report ranked Two Rivers High School in the top 5% of high schools in Minnesota, out of 896 schools. It’s an improvement from last year’s top 10% ranking. Olson-Skog said it was an accomplishment that reflects on the entire district.
- The board also honored the outgoing student board representatives LaRae Dodson and Samantha Villa and presented each with a $500 scholarship.
Engage
- More: Agendas and minutes for ISD 197 School Board meetings are available online.
- Watch: You can watch this meeting online.
Coverage of ISD 197 School Board meetings happens thanks to the support of our members and our successful member drive.
