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

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.