District 279 board hears DPAC call to expand interventionists, create Caregiver Academy; approves policy revisions and gifts

The District 279 School Board of the Osseo Public School District heard a presentation May 19 from the District Planning Advisory Council (DPAC) urging the district to expand a centrally managed interventionist team and to establish a phased Caregiver Academy to support families.

Dr. Jill Kind, director of learning and achievement, opened the presentation by describing DPAC’s year-long process and the council’s work reviewing prior recommendations, district budgeting, and intervention efficacy studies. DPAC chair Rose Ton then presented two high‑priority recommendations: shift and expand math and literacy interventionist roles to be centrally managed by the Department of Learning and Achievement and move those positions into the general fund to reduce reliance on unstable state and federal funding; and build a Caregiver Academy — a centralized digital hub plus seminars and outreach — designed to give families on‑demand tools to support academic and social‑emotional learning.

"Centralizing these roles under the Department of Learning and Achievement ensures that interventionists are deployed based on real‑time student data, rather than building level budget constraints," Rose Ton said, explaining the proposal would target schools and students with the highest need and reduce reliance on variable external funding. Ton recommended a phased rollout beginning in the 2027–28 academic year, with planning, build, execution and evaluation phases.

DPAC justified the proposed changes as ways to close racial and economic achievement gaps, increase readiness for college and careers, and provide sustainable staffing models. The Caregiver Academy, DPAC said, would provide accessible resources such as on‑demand videos, tutorials, streamlined access to benefit applications and targeted webinars to help caregivers act as co‑educators.

Board members praised DPAC’s process and said the caregiver‑academy concept had broad appeal; several members suggested exploring partnerships (for example, with community engagement bodies such as RISE) and asked staff to examine possible budget alignments and redeploying existing resources to support the recommendations. No formal adoption or funding decision was made at the meeting.

Votes at a glance: The board carried several routine and procedural items by unanimous votes. The agenda was accepted (motion moved by Director Keith Tate; seconded by Director Thomas Brooks; passed 6–0). The consent agenda — including minutes, financial reports, grants, personnel items, a resolution regarding termination of probationary teachers, MSHSL renewals and contracts — was approved 6–0. A slate of second‑reading policy revisions (including policy 504 student dress and appearance; 506 student discipline; 514 bullying and hazing; 519 interviews of students by outside agencies; and 520 student surveys with an amendment changing a reference from "instructional" to "survey" in section 3.A) was approved 6–0. The board also accepted district gifts totaling $167,073.31 by a 6–0 vote.

What happens next: DPAC recommended a phased timeline beginning with planning and stakeholder engagement, followed by building a digital platform and piloting programming; board members asked staff to return with partnership and budget options that could operationalize DPAC’s recommendations in future work sessions. The board adjourned at 7:11 p.m.