[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6119693,"mediaKeyId","2711271-cc5fce501e40eb85164a4922eda2a9b7","parentId",2711271,"title","Parents and staff press Osseo board on counselor cuts, ESP pay and LGBTQIA advisory lesson at public comment","audioSeconds",1111,"startMs",2459000,"endMs",3570000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711271-cc5fce501e40eb85164a4922eda2a9b7&start=2459&end=3570","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711271-cc5fce501e40eb85164a4922eda2a9b7/thumbnail_2459000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6119693/Minnesota/Parents-and-staff-press-Osseo-board-on-counselor-cuts-ESP-pay-and-LGBTQIA-advisory-lesson-at-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119693-379b0e4ec82fd5ff82f39f89d05689c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441866&Signature=Aa-ZBsVxjA7Mk67CAr93vnOo3GGTx7KMqcWx21Qrvm9QtNYsb-wbmmBjtyBnOUouIQS50MYajvc~biuoM5ecp4Rx~-m-GNuv5KbGRMguKPCb-Zq3xf5Ft7984tym7DTAQJDIMVp-UqjfWbC9Zo7DOhi-Fjxy5CXWrGW2B-WNU9Hfu~RQwTMYmCHuwpW8XBWb-xOOtLqFxZuG6WLyG8E2LmPhcC7wdwvQLyvg0nQegCzdRvtW1i4OFMs-azDMx4PFuD63fP04c8DK-kqXh9z99yEqB79nJoSExL48QaqBR1RIgog3ToqJ8SrFqTD0j1WUQE5ieeoyuN-qKOMizzDbCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Osseo Public Schools","date","2025-03-19T12:22:02Z","article","Dozens of parents, staff and district employees used the board's public-comment period March 18 to raise three recurring concerns: reported reductions to elementary school counselors and social workers, district treatment and pay for education support professionals (ESPs), and objections to a district LGBTQIA advisory lesson that several speakers said should be removed.

Dr. Marguerite Ortman, a parent of students at Oakview Elementary, told the board she had learned the school's counselor position was being reduced to 0.6 FTE and that social-work staffing was being cut across the district. \"These positions are essential for the mental health and well-being of our students,\" Ortman said, and she urged the district to maintain full-time counseling in elementary schools. She said the reductions appear tied to compensatory funding and questioned how a recently passed referendum — which she described as \"$223,000,000\" — and a district holdback figure she gave in the meeting would relate to staff reductions. Ortman also noted that other large Minnesota districts are not cutting elementary counselors and, she said, are adding positions.

A second cluster of speakers raised objections to last year's LGBTQIA advisory lesson and asked that a similar lesson not be required this year. Parent Natalie Sonick said schools should teach \"kindness and empathy\" without a separate LGBTQIA lesson and said some families would find elements of the lesson in conflict with their religious or cultural beliefs. \"There is a way to respect both individual identities and the right for students to hold diverse beliefs without having the LGBTQIA lesson,\" Sonick said. Several other speakers, including Muno Mohammed, Abdi Raman Ibrahim and LaDon Severin, expressed similar concerns and asked the board to remove or pause the advisory lesson.

A third group of speakers — many identified as education support professionals — described low pay, complex and expanding job duties, and insufficient training. Tracy Dorn, an ESP at Oakview, said she is paid $2.50 less per hour for time labeled \"clerical\" despite supervising second-graders in the lunchroom and on the playground and performing instructional duties. \"We are asking you to respect our work and honor our dedication,\" she said, asking for pay that reflects the work ESPs perform. Other ESP speakers described on-the-job assaults, limited training for specialized assignments and a multi-job reality to make ends meet. Michelle Dennard, an ESP with 21½ years in the district, asked the board to translate district values into pay increases and dignity for ESPs.

Several speakers urged the board to focus on core academics and warned about curriculum choices that they said could divide families. Parent Tyla Sullivan said flags and lessons that she described as ambiguous had prompted her family to move a child out of the district. Speakers on that theme argued the district should leave certain sensitive topics to parents and faith communities.

Superintendent Dr. Kim Heil acknowledged the public-comment period and described the meeting's space as an opportunity \"to allow others to share their truth without judgment,\" thanking those who spoke and noting the district's commitment to listening. The board did not take formal action on the topics during the meeting; the comments were part of the public-comment period and the board indicated staff follow-up would occur through regular channels.

Speakers requested specific actions including restoring or protecting full-time elementary counseling positions, clarifying how referendum and reserve funds are being used, increasing ESP pay and providing additional training and supports, and removing the LGBTQIA advisory lesson from required curriculum. The meeting packet and district website list staff contacts and policies for follow-up; the board noted that the audience-opportunity guidelines instructed those seeking follow-up to leave contact information with the board secretary.

Sources: public-comment remarks at the March 18, 2025 Independent School District 279 school board meeting and superintendent remarks during the same meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 18th, 2025 School Board Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At the March 18 meeting of Independent School District 279, parents and education support professionals raised concerns about reductions to elementary counseling and social work positions, sought higher pay and training for ESPs, and urged the board to drop a district LGBTQIA advisory lesson.","taxTitle","Osseo Public School District, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",13237,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6119698,"Osseo board approves renovation bids for Osseo Senior High; work to start this summer",452,997000,1449000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711271-cc5fce501e40eb85164a4922eda2a9b7&start=997&end=1449","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711271-cc5fce501e40eb85164a4922eda2a9b7/thumbnail_997000.jpg","/articles/6119698/Minnesota/Osseo-board-approves-renovation-bids-for-Osseo-Senior-High-work-to-start-this-summer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119698-04c7f375bf57aade00df6e49e5f05100/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441866&Signature=KAVHtpvP13BbalbA0TQ5fNPPWZfSzK6YFqU4dOpGXd27vGyFrm7xki08OIGjB-2-SXO0ROGNtntn14TUeXn6EPYFZG4oSsnrV5uiQg9T6WDT~5geqDobjeO-Sv856Q94lk8Tl~m6obIjiy4AEkz2EQ2NwLiD3LYUhg3hXHNY-gUdsixjGP1fOSKAQRRdM7mfqi-wxxO07uSeANxhfBdWhkK5lmdy0oE9Q2Pzg-pP5-rniLreeBcJ~Y9ay~T6FegSoNeFAFbdL0KNJ0WBXrIvnf6BYM4jTf6A6GgBBg7GPYV9KGAwVeni3gPAO9qhZaoEecxeGzac71JtuLLWivfPQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Independent School District 279 board on March 18 approved construction bids that will fund planned renovations and an addition at Osseo Senior High, a district presenter said, with work beginning this summer and finishing in time for the fall 2026 term.

John Morrison, executive director of finance and operations, presented the project and walked the board through renderings and interior plans. He said the work will add a secured vestibule at the main entry, expand and modernize the media center and cafeteria, relocate and enlarge the wrestling and fitness area, update health science labs and locker rooms, build a school store for student-run business programming and add an exterior automotive-shop addition to house a new wrestling and fitness space. \"This project starts right away this summer and will carry through the summer of 2026,\" Morrison said.

Morrison showed before-and-after views of the media center, explained that the current cafeteria footprint will expand by taking space previously used as the weight room and that the old automotive shop will become a more usable wrestling and fitness area. He told the board the new wrestling/fitness area will be about 100 square feet larger in fully usable space than the current arrangement and that several career-and-technical-education lab spaces will be upgraded to align with other district CTE work. Morrison also said the project was \"currently under budget.\"

The board approved the district's consent agenda, which included the construction bid awards for Osseo Senior High and other projects, by voice vote, 6-0. Director Thomas Brooks moved approval of the consent agenda; Director Erica Foster seconded. The consent agenda also included meeting minutes, personnel actions, extended educational trips, a 10-year transportation contract and other routine business.

The meeting record shows separate votes later in the meeting to approve gifts to the district. The clerk initially stated a monthly total of \"$27,383.88,\" then asked for a motion to approve gifts \"totaling $27,003.83 and 88¢.\" Director Keith Tate moved approval of the gifts; Director Brooks seconded, and the board approved the motion 6-0. The record contains that conflicting pair of figures; the final approved amount is not explicitly reconciled in the transcript.

No additional budget detail or contract awards tied to the Osseo Senior High project were read into the record beyond the presentation and the consent vote. Morrison said the exterior addition to the former auto shop will be one of the last items completed and that the district will begin work this summer. Superintendent Dr. Kim Heil and Chair Tanya Prince were present during the presentation; board members asked no substantive follow-up questions during the discussion of the project.

Votes at a glance: the board passed the meeting agenda (moved by Director Sarah Mitchell; seconded by Director Thomas Brooks) 6-0; approved the consent agenda including construction bids (moved by Director Thomas Brooks; seconded by Director Erica Foster) 6-0; approved gifts to the district (moved by Director Keith Tate; seconded by Director Thomas Brooks) 6-0; and adjourned at 7:10 p.m. following a motion by Director Brooks and second by Director Mitchell that passed 6-0.

The board packet and posted meeting materials list additional bid and contract descriptions; those documents provide itemized bid amounts and contractor names that the board asked to approve on the consent agenda. The presentation materials shown at the meeting include renderings, floor plans and a timeline. The district will post archived video of the March 18 meeting and the full consent-agenda listing on the district website, district279.org.

Sources: presentation to the Independent School District 279 school board by John Morrison, executive director of finance and operations; board roll-call votes recorded during the March 18, 2025 meeting.","At its March 18 meeting, the Independent School District 279 board approved consent-agenda construction bids that fund renovations and an addition at Osseo Senior High, a project presenters said will start summer 2025 and finish in time for the 2026 school year.","actionData","errors"]

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Parents and staff press Osseo board on counselor cuts, ESP pay and LGBTQIA advisory lesson at public comment

Osseo board approves renovation bids for Osseo Senior High; work to start this summer