Superintendent
Owatonna Public Schools
The AASA Governing Board convened on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 to conduct the business of the board and hear a federal legislative report from Noelle Ellerson Ng. At our meeting, we also spent time in a breakout session with our Region 3 colleagues.
The highlight of the meeting was the election process that elected our own David Law as one of three President-Elect candidates. If you are a member of AASA and have not voted, please do so within the next week.
The following topics were discussed both as a region and then reported out to the entire governing board. These topics will be among the many that will be discussed in D.C. in the coming months.
- E-Rate – Wifi and hotspots on buses. There was an urgency to provide flexibility on E-rate as technology evolves to cover cybersecurity protections for districts.
- Student Data Privacy
- Swatting threats are a National Security Issue – We cannot defend this.
- Can there be an additional funding source for cyber security?
- Can we focus our efforts on proactive/preventing approaches AND responding to cybersecurity threats?
- Universal Meals – Federally funded; including no harm to federally funded programs driven by free/reduced lunch
- Can we use census data to determine free/reduced lunch?
- Financial support for increased cafeteria supervision and nutrition services staff to accommodate more students eating lunch and breakfast
- Can we develop a new formula to determine federal funding that does not rely on free/reduced lunch applications?
- Overgeneralizing needs based upon free lunch; should we develop a different formula that goes deeper to determine individual needs?
- Bus Drivers – Concerns about limitations and requirements that does not allow people to attain their bus license
- Flexibility and creativity for licensing for bus drivers – Department of Transportation issue
- Appropriating more money to offer better pay for bus drivers
Special Education IDEA Funding Formula
- Current formula for federal funding per state is not equitable
- Committees are not scheduling any hearings on fully funding IDEA (Requires action)
Position Statements:
200.4 Bullying, harassment based upon religion, New statement: Free from religious discrimination, intolerance and that students of all faiths.
200.4 – Group had a discussion about the need to mention specific religions – there was some concern about mentioning specific religions and also understanding that there may be those that feel left out.
(200.4 was resolved and approved by the governing board with amended language)
(All other position statements were approved as presented).
Membership Dues – Agreement with the $15 increase for dues. (Approved)
Regional Issues:
- Recent changes in CDL licenses for bus drivers has caused additional issues/concerns.
- Special Education IDEA Requirements
- OHI is too broad of an area when it includes mental health; need more specificity to determine more defined services and funding for those.
- Time to review 45-day unilateral placement for special education students as it is not being used because of fear of potential litigation.
The Federal Advocacy session will be held July 9-11 in Washington D.C.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Elstad
AASA Governing Board Member
