The School Board met for its last regular meeting of the calendar year on December 17th.
The Future Farmers of America advisors and student leaders presented a chapter-wide project on Agricultural Literacy.
Advisor, Elaina Knott described this as a solution for reaching the youth in Osakis, "One demographic that we aren't reaching is younger students and also our parents, as well. The students came up with this idea to try and hit that demographic other than the students that are actually in our school."
The plan is to have these "Book Barns" with educational information geared towards children located at the Osakis Public School Playground, the Athletic Complex, Park Osagi, and near Tip Top. The students will be meeting with the City Council in the future to get approval on the locations outside school property.
The School Board reviewed the annual School Census data on enrollment for 2025-2026 with discussions about trends and projections.
K-12 Enrollment is at 847 students
Elementary grades continue to trend higher, with an abnormally small graduating class this year, projections are for around 860 students in future years
A trend of losing more resident students in the 11-12 grade levels when students are choosing education options offered by other schools specific to their career paths
growing number of resident birth to 4-year old children in the School District
344 students are open enrolling in, with 63 resident students open enrolling out and 57 students being homeschooled.
The School Board reviewed a policy and resolution related to capping open enrollment. The adoption of that policy and discussion of that resolution will be at the regular board meeting in January.
The School Board approved the 2026-2027 School Calendar
School will begin on September 1st - prior to Labor Day. This was allowed by State Statute approved at the 2025 Legislative Session. Starting before Labor Day allows the District to finish school before Memorial Day.
Families and staff were surveyed and indicated a preference for a before Labor day Start
A staff workshop was planned for the potential date of the Section Football Final at the Fargo Dome - students would not be in school that day and it would be easier for all to attend if the team made it that far into the playoffs
The schedule has more than the minimum required instructional hours for K-6, allowing the District to have e-learning only for 7-12 if those days are needed due to weather. This plan will be refined by Administration
Board Clerk, Amy Weisser, was the board representative on the calendar committee and commented on the process and proposed calendar: "I read the comments from the surveys and the proposed calendar was very accommodating to all of those comments, as much as you could be. The [Committee] was very considerate of the opinions, which was nice to see."
The School Board heard and approved the annual report on the School's 2024-2025 Comprehensive Achievement and Career Readiness (CACR)
The District reported as On Track or Met for the following goals
All Children are ready for school
All Students are ready for career and college
All Students graduate from high school (100% graduated in 2024-2025)
All Students are prepared to be lifelong learners
The District reported Not On Track for the following goal:
All racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed.
It was noted that many changes were made in reading curriculum for 2025-2026, interventionist support and the addition of Melanie Stier as the Instructional Programs Lead to put more resources towards this area that hopes to be back on track or met when the 2025-2026 report is reviewed next year.
Other items:
The School Board approved updates to the Wellness Policy as recommended by the Wellness Committee.
The School Board approved capital purchases for a propane bus, replacing a 1942 compressor on the roof of the CTE department areas due to its inadequacy in handling current equipment depends in those shops, and new infant simulators for child care curriculum.
Activities Director report, Elementary Principal report, and High School Principal report were made to the Board on updates in those areas.
The next School Board Meeting will be on January 6, 2026 at 5:30pm for its annual organizational meeting where official school business, School Board roles, and committee assignments are approved for 2026.