District 197 Chalk Talk: What Education Issues at the MN State Capitol to Watch

A number of issues developing at the state Capitol may be worthy of the 's attention, according to a report by Interim Superintendent Tom Nelson given at Monday night's board meeting.

Nelson, a legislator himself in the years '77-'86, said that in a non-budget year, the goal is to “do no harm.” Funding issues he said worthy of attention include how integration programs are to be funded and whether a district’s referendum dollars should follow a student attending a charter school.

Nelson said a number of issues fall under the category of local control:

• If school boards should be allowed to renew levies without another referendum.
• If those referendum votes should be required to happen in an even-year election.
• If district’s should be able to use levy dollars toward pensions
• Whether the post-Labor Day start for Minnesota students should be maintained or not.

 Two issues related to teacher contracts include a bill to consider both seniority and teacher evaluations when determining budget layoffs, or "non-voluntary leave of absences." The other issue cited by Nelson is the vanquished deadline for contract negotiations. Since the Jan. 15 deadline was done away with last year, he said half the districts in the state have yet to resolve contracts with their teachers, including District 197.

• The board received an update on where a science, technology, engineering and math ( has been implemented. A group of students presented their hand-made windmills to the board. This year, the school is emphasizing the “E,” or engineering element of the program, said Magnet Coordinator Susan Benjamin.

• Principal Joni Hagebock and Heritage Middle School Principal Chris Hiti presented a plan to align and standardize the middle school schedules. The changes proposed could address achievement shortfalls in core subjects, said the principals, while allowing for more efficiency and consistency between the two buildings.

• The district’s child nutrition director, Jeff Wolfer, and two dietitian consultants, Jill Verchota and Michelle Trumpy, presented a number of programs and grants the district is pursuing to improve the quality and nutrition of food in the district’s lunchrooms. The district is rolling out the HealthierUS School Challenge program, providing salad bars in the elementary schools, and has secured funding to provide fruit and vegetable snacks twice a week outside of mealtime in schools with greater than 50 percent eligibility for free or reduced lunch.

• Susan Brott, district communications director, presented an update on the . While a recent community meeting was sparsely attended, Brott said response to an has been strong. A consulting firm hired to execute the search wrapped up focus group research Monday evening, said Brott. A candidate profile is expected to be presented to the board Feb. 21, and a slate of candidates is scheduled to be made public March 15.

• The board approved a budget framework that will guide the board and community in formulating a budget for the 2012-2013 school year. As part of the framework, levy revenue, class sizes and fees for extended kindergarten and transportation will remain the same. Enrollment and integration funding are expected to increase. The budget process is also expected to “take into consideration” the recommendations of the and the Music Task Force recommendations.

• The next school board meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21 due to Presidents Day.