Thanks to Block Portrait Studios, Lehner Law Office, and Pace Automotive for their support.
Recognitions, including a musical performance, stole the show at Monday’s school board meeting that also included site reports from the Early Learning Center and Branch Out program as well as another update on the upcoming levy.
Recognitions
- Mariachi band: Heritage Middle School’s Mariachi band shared a performance with the board in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The band grew out of the school’s orchestra program when students asked their orchestra teacher for a chance to play Mariachi music. They’re currently an after-school program, and have performed locally at events including the West Side’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.
- National Merit Scholars: The board also recognized the district’s three National Merit Scholars, all of whom achieved outstanding scores on the PSAT. All three students credited their success in part to strong participation in extracurricular activities, AP classes, and lots of reading.
- “Once you’ve done calc, nothing else is hard by comparison.”
- Retirement: Director of Special Education Sarah Lein took the podium to recognize Stacy O’Leary, retiring health services coordinator, after a 22-year career. The crowning achievement of her career was launching Warrior Care, Two Rivers’ in-school healthcare center.
- “It took a lot of people, and a lot of time. It’s a process,” O’Leary said.
- Thompson Park Activity Center: Lisa Grathen, Director of Community Education, recognized Tim Johnson and Brenda Myran for their work in creating and running the Thompson Park Activity Center (TPAC). This two-person program serves over 3,400 people aged 55+ per year, offering hundreds of activities that go far beyond the standard fare usually available to older people.
- Tim’s favorite class: Learning about airport operations.
- Brenda’s favorite class: Local volunteering.
- Board member Byron Schwab asked for tips on popular classes that fill up fast, and Johnson mentioned their nature, politics, and history topics.
- Superintendent Peter Olson-Skog emphasized the fact that ISD 197’s budget also goes to support programs like this, which are on the line if the upcoming levy fails.
Early Learning Center Site Report
Laurie Hume, assistant director of Early Learning, shared a report on the Early Learning Center (ELC). The ELC serves students in ECFE and Pre-K, with a strong emphasis on play and creativity. Hume listed a few points of pride:
- More nature-based play: Including an outdoor mud kitchen, a larger fenced play area, and more field trips to parks, nature centers, and other outdoor spaces. There are also nature-specific courses in the ECFE program.
- ECFE Reimagined: In the face of falling enrollment, they’re launching programs that take ECFE out into community spaces including parks, libraries, and local churches. The goal is both to encourage family participation outside of the classroom and drive sign-ups for traditional ECFE classes.
- New curriculum: The ELC is exploring multiple new curriculum frameworks as part of their 10-year curriculum review, with a focus on serving children with special needs and aligning skills with higher grade levels.
Byron Schwab, who was the school principal who hired Hume for her first teaching job, expressed his tremendous pride in her and everything she’s done for the district.
Branch Out Site Report
Rachel Johnston, special education supervisor, shared a report on the district’s Branch Out program. Branch Out helps special education students transition from school to the wider world. They serve students up to 22 years old, with a focus on helping them find housing, employment, and relationships outside of school. They provide services to students throughout the tri-district area (including South St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights), serving 26 students at present.
Johnson shared several points of pride for the program:
- Ambassadors for Respect: a grant-funded program from PeaceMaker Minnesota that brings people with developmental disabilities to 4th-grade classrooms to help them learn about how to include others, use person-first language, learn about the life of a person with disabilities, and prevent bullying.
- A new outdoor classroom space: Including wheelchair-accessible tables and an exterior sign like other schools in the district. These improvements were paid for with grant funding. secured by the recently-retired Stacy O’Leary.
- Career Climber awards: To celebrate the talents and accomplishments of Branch Out students, with a focus on achievements that fit students’ skills, needs, and growth.
- Public transit advocacy: Most of Branch Out’s students don’t drive, so access to public transit is essential for them if they want to be independent. Students advocate for better transit access and take care of bus stops in exchange for free bus passes.
- Work experience: Branch Out is always looking for new businesses to partner with as a way to get their students work experience. They’ve partnered with Clothesline Laundromat, Dakota Eye Care, Amore Coffee, and Angelo’s Italian Restaurant most recently.
- Holiday shopping: Johnson concluded by inviting everyone to Branch Out’s winter boutique on Friday, December 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They only accept cash and checks.
Levy Update
Olson-Skog concluded the meeting by sharing 10 facts about the upcoming levy, with a goal of addressing common misconceptions and questions he’s heard from district residents:
- The district has a funding gap due to a state funding formula that has failed to keep up with inflation for decades. State funding increases by about 1% per year, while district costs have gone up by about 3% per year.
- The district has already cut $3.2 million in recent years, including $2.55 million cuts in the past year.
- The levy would provide the district with $4.6 million per year for the next 10 years.
- The levy would fund existing eligible expenses, including textbooks and teaching materials, safety and security, building maintenance and utilities, and transportation.
- The levy would cost owners of a $400,000 home an extra $14 per month.
- ISD 197 ranks 40th out of 47 in tax burden (first is highest) in the metro area.
- If the levy fails, the district will be forced to cut between $2 and $4 million, which will directly impact student experience with larger class sizes, fewer class options, and reduced services.
- The levy will be on the ballot for the election on Tuesday, November 3, absentee voting has already started, and early voting starts on October 16.
- The Permanent School Fund amendment is also on the ballot, which would provide about $150,000 per year to ISD 197. This would not significantly close the district’s funding gap, but it doesn’t increase taxes either. A non-vote on this amendment would be counted as a “no” vote, so “yes” votes are highly encouraged.
- ISD 197 spends 2.7% of its budget on administration costs, compared to an average of 5% statewide. This figure does not include recent budget cuts that focused on administration over student-facing services and positions.
Engage
- More: Agendas and minutes for ISD 197 School Board meetings are available online.
- Watch: You can watch the meeting online. Superintendent Peter Olson Skog and Board Member Marcus Hill gave a video recap of the meeting.
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