November 7, 2024

Important to NOTE: Court Decision on Non-Weather Related Asynchronous Learning Days and the Rights of Parents who have a Student with an IEP

The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the MDE decision that for non-weather-related asynchronous days schools must inform parents of the right to an IEP meeting before the asynchronous days. The case originated in Minnetonka Public Schools which planned an asynchronous day for students in order to facilitate parent-teacher conferences.

The opinion says parents of students with IEPs need to be notified that they can meet with their student’s IEP team prior to the asynchronous learning day. Simply notifying the parents of students with IEPs that an asynchronous learning day is scheduled is not enough according to the opinion of the court. Parents must know of the IEP team meeting possibility and the right to alter their student’s IEP. Read the opinion here!

Businesses’ Top 10 Skill Priorities for 2027

As you review your educational programs, you may want to consider information shared at the Advanced Leadership Academy taken from the “World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2023.” 

Here’s what that report identified as skills needed for jobs in 2027:

1. Analytical thinking

2. Creative thinking

3. AI and big data

4. Leadership and social influence

5. Resilience flexibility and agility

6. Curiosity and lifelong learning

7. Technological literacy

8. Design and user experience

9. Motivation and self-awareness

10. Empathy and active listening

Which would you identify as the top three we need to ensure we are teaching in our schools? The Advanced Leadership Academy participants (your MASA colleagues) had good discussions trying to whittle the list down to their top three. Might be an instructive discussion with staff.

Two Budget Reduction & Strategy Sessions Remaining-Register soon!

I hope you are able to join one of the last two sessions to hear from superintendents about their budget situations and how they are engaging their communities. 100 of your colleagues have already attended one of the sessions.

You can find the presentation from the first session held at Sartell below along with the slides from the recent sessions in Rochester and Hermantown.

October 28, 2024 - Sartell

• Slides

• Minnetonka Budget Reduction Update PDF

November 1, 2024 - Rochester

• Slides

• Minnetonka Budget Reduction Update PDF

November 5, 2024 - Hermantown

• Slides

Where and when are the remaining sessions?

December 12 | Add to calendar

1 - 2:30 pm

Northwest Service Cooperative

Garden Valley Technologies, 206 Vance Ave S, Erskine, MN 56535

Lunch will be provided starting at 12:15 pm, please register by December 4 so we can have an accurate count!

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Speakers:

Dan Bittman, Superintendent, Elk River Area School District

Ann-Marie Foucault, Superintendent, St. Michael-Albertville School District

December 19 | Add to calendar

​10 - 11:30 am

SWWC Service Cooperative, Redwood Falls

Redwood Area Community Center

901 E Cook St, Redwood Falls, MN 56283

Room: Conference Center | Community Center Map

Attendees are invited to stay for lunch, please register by December 11 so we can have an accurate count!

Speakers:

Cory McIntyre, Superintendent, Anoka Hennepin School District

Michael Thomas, Superintendent, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools

Register for a session here: https://forms.gle/4o1hKw78eWWkCNuT7 

Who can attend these sessions?

Superintendents, their finance/business staff, principals - whomever you would like to bring from your staff. You do not have to belong to the organizations hosting the presentations. All host sites welcome you!

Leadership Matters!