School Board Meetings & Working Sessions

Link to KDWA 

Link to KDWA 

View full Agenda here

Topics covered during this work session included: Should sexually explicit materials be available in school? Should wall hangings/flags promoting social movements be allowed in the schools/classrooms? They were requests made by Director Tate, who advised in the beginning of the meeting that she wanted to discuss them to try to do anything possible to prevent declining enrollment and to maintain trust in what students have access to at school.

John Edison, School District's Attorney from Rupp, Anderson, Squires, Waldspurger & Mace, P.A., began explaining, 

"First of all, with respect to the decision about what types of materials should be kept in the public school library, the courts have said that school boards have a legitimate role in determination of what would be considered appropriate to have for library content and essentially that courts are extremely reluctant to substitute their judgement for that of a school board in determining what is appropriate and what isn't...for situations where there have been decisions to remove an item from a library, the courts would look at that as something that's not the same as a book ban."

Director Dressely read direct quotes from two of the  books found in the High School Library. She then referenced  Policy 606.1  The primary purpose of library media materials and all other instructional materials is to implement, enrich, and support the educational programs of the school.  She stated, "According to our own policy, these examples do not meet the primary purpose of library materials " 

Director Dressely presented these documents at the meeting: February 8th Work Session (2).pdf - Google Drive 

The school board was presented 35 examples of sexually explicit materials found within Hastings Public Schools by Director Tate which contained direct quotes from the books (found here)

 The books include graphic details of the following:

• Explicit sexual activities

• Child sex abuse

• Rapes of both minors and adults

• Pedophilia

• Sexual assault, battery, and molestation   

• Prostitution

• Sex trafficking of children  

• Nudity

• Incest

The conversation that followed:

Vice Chair Malm wanted to know the education levels, their experience with reviews on books and their knowledge in law. 

Director Tate advised that they were typical parents. 

Chair Hedin advised that she doesn't believe that people who are not educational professionals should be providing input on library materials. 

Director Tate advised that these were the parents and community members that we serve.

Director Tate Proposed These Review Guidelines:

1)     Is the material pornographic in nature? Does the material present sexual or sexually explicit content or subject matter that is not in a curricular context or that is void of any moral context or guidance? If yes, then it should not be used.

2)     Would the material meet FCC broadcast decency standards? If the material were broadcast in its entirety without redaction, would it meet FCC guidelines for what is acceptable? If no, then the material should not be used.

3)     Could the material qualify for a PG-13 rating or below? Would the material qualify for no greater than a PG-13 rating using the most basic MPAA criteria? If the answer is no, then it should not be used.

4)     Does the material comply with our district’s policies, procedures & guidelines? Would it be allowable for a student, teacher, or other staff to read aloud, write, post, or otherwise display any portion of the subject matter or individual words in a classroom or general school context such as in an assigned paper, on a classroom or hall poster, in classroom conversation, or on one’s apparel? If the answer is no, then it should not be used.

5)    Does the material contain highly controversial or adult subject matter including profanity? Does the material present subject matter or content that is no age appropriate for minors or contain profanity? If yes, then it should not be used.

The next topic was discussing wall hangings in schools. Director Tate advised she believes the district should be welcoming for all students.

Legal Information on Flags promoting Social Movements, from a presentation at the MN School Board Association by Ratwick, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. (one of ISD 200's law firms): Staff Speech on School Property:  Case law establishes that "Teachers do not have a free speech right in the content of their classes because teaching is speech made on behalf of the school."  

See e.g. Mayer v. Monroe County Community School Corporation 474 F.3d 477, 479- 80 (7th Cir. 2007)

Because the role of the teacher is to conduct education to captive audiences based on the curriculum adopted by the school system, they are not entitled to express their own viewpoints. Id. Relatedly, any messages a teacher would convey on a classroom wall, bulletin board, or on the teacher’s person (button, pin, shirt, face mask) can be regulated and prohibited by the school.

The board then discussed removing signage/flags/wall hangings/etc. that do not represent universal values, to ensure the schools are a welcoming environment for ALL students. The discussion included the removal of items such as Black Lives Matter messaging, which is not universal and especially controversial to families of police officers, per Director Tate. It also included removing items like Pride flags/messaging, as it is not in line with the beliefs of, for example, certain religions. Because the schools cannot have viewpoint discrimination, Director Tate argued that, if we allow this messaging, we have to allow the opposite messaging, which opens the schools up to being a battleground of ideologies, which are not relevant to curriculum.

In 2021 the school board  created the Finance Committee with the following mission statement:

The Finance Committee's mission is  to provide strategic oversight of budget and financial activities on behalf of ISD 200. The Committee will support sustainability, transparency, and equity throughout the School Board and the community at large. This will in turn enhance public confidence in the district’s ability to effectively handle its financial affairs through communication of the results of its work to the School Board, and by educating the public regarding the financial position and outlook for the District. 

View full Agenda  here

Reports

Worlds Best Workforce Report was shared by Rachel Larsen. was shared by Rachel Larsen. The WBWF was developed to ensure that school districts in Minnesota enhance student achievement through teaching and learning support. The Minnesota Department of Education created the 5 areas to measure progress & our district set the goals for these areas. The District failed to meet all 5 WBWF goals 

Achievement & Integrations Goals The District met 2 of the 4 Achievement & Integration goals

Goal 1: Increase the number of students of color and American Indian students who enroll in AP and CIS courses from 18 in 2018-2019 to at least 24

Results= 71 students of color and American Indian students enrolled

Goal 2: Increase the number of high school teachers who have been formally trained in Culturally Relevant Teaching strategies from 2 in 2018-2019 to at least 30

Results= Total of 41 teachers trained

Goal 3: Students will report an increase in their understanding of diversity from in 4 in 2019 to at least 4.7

Results= 4.5

Goal 4: Increase the 4 year graduation rates of students of poverty by 3% each year from 89.5% in 2019

Results= 85.2%

Approval of OPEB Contributions  

Truth in Taxation December 2022

Actual Levy payable in 2022                    $17,521,507.00

Proposed Levy payable in 2023             $19,103,676.00

Levy Increase $1,582,169.00 or 9%

Action Items

2022 Replacement Literacy Resources For Small Group Instruction

Updating resource library for small group instruction. Replacing decodable readers for kindergarten and first grade classrooms. Cost: $94,863 ($32,621 per school)

22-23 Revised Budget

Hastings ISD 200 22 pay 23 Final Levy Certification

The District has summited to it's plan to request the max Levy Limit in 2023 to the Minnesota Department of Education 

Total Levy limit $19,103,676.18

Proposed Levy $19,103,676.18

Certified Levy  $19,103,676.18

View full Agenda here

Reports

Key Takeaways from the State of the District:

Enrollment Snapshot: Over the last decade enrollment has declined by 416 students 

Stakeholder Survey: It is important to note that the survey's target audience, were taxpayers that no longer had school-aged children.

Hastings Public Schools Budget Adjustment: The District has made $3.5 million in budget cuts over the past three years.

MCA Results -

In Math, 48.6% of Hastings students are at grade level, which is 3.8% above the statewide average.

In Reading, 52.1% of Hastings students are at grade level, which is 1% above the statewide average.

In Science, 49.5% of Hastings students are at grade level, which is 4.6% above the statewide average.

Audit Report

MN Legal Compliance - Audit found No noncompliance with Minnesota laws & regulations

Federal Awards - Clean opinion on SEFA & No material weaknesses or instances of noncompliance

Action Items

Supervisor Contract  |  Unaffiliated Staff Terms and Conditions   |  Tech Support Contract  |  Administrator Contract | HESA Agreement 

All five contracts receive  2% increase in salary during year one of this contract & 2.1% increase in salary during year two of this contract.

Superintendent Contract-Redline 

There was a great deal of discussion regarding the Superintendent's new contract, sections of the contract discussed include:

Salary:

Current Contract:

2022-2023 Contract year Salary: $180,000 

New Contract:

2023-2024 Contract year Salary $198,230 - increase from previous year = $18,230 or 10.1% 

2024-2025 Contract year Salary $203,837 - increase from previous year = $5,607 or 2.8%

2025-2026 Contract year Salary $208,373 - increase from previous year = $4,536 or 2.2%

(Salary totals include longevity bonuses but do not include yearly pay out for unused vacation days.)

Vacation: 35 days of paid vacation each year. Unused vacation must be taken or surrendered for pay at the daily rate of pay ($874.36) within six (6) months after the end of the contract year in which it is earned.

Sick Leave: The superintendent will be credited with 15 days of paid sick leave on July 1 of each Contract year. Sick leave may accumulate without limit & will be paid at the Daily Rate of Pay ($874.36).

Daily Rate of Pay is used when calculating severance pay, sick pay, & vacation pay:

Current Contract:

2022-2023 Contract year Daily Rate of Pay $782.60

New Contract:

2023-2024 Contract year Daily Rate of Pay $874.36

2024-2025 Contract year Daily Rate of Pay $897.05

2025-2026 Contract year Daily Rate of Pay $914.99

Separation of Employment (not in current contract):

Upon the Superintendent’s separation from employment, regardless of the reason, the Superintendent shall receive severance pay in the amount of:

2023-2024 Contract year $97,054

2024-2025 Contract year $100,470

2025-2026 Contract year $102,479

Important to note: this does not include sick leave pay (15 days) that accumulates without limit or unused paid vacation days (35 days of paid vacation per year).

Contract was adopted with a vote of 4/2:

Voted in favor of the contract:

Director Beissel, Chair Davis, Director Hedin, Vice Chair Malm 

Voted against the contract:

Director Dressely, Director Tate