Osseo school board elects officers, keeps 2024 pay levels and approves committees at organizational meeting

The Independent School District 279 Scribe Board (Osseo Public School District) met Jan. 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Educational Service Center boardroom and unanimously elected officers for 2025, adopted board compensation at the prior year’s rates, approved the consent agenda and committee and joint board representatives, and recessed for a follow-up work session.

The organizational meeting established leadership and administrative procedures that will guide the district this year, including the selection of board chair, vice chair, clerk and treasurer and confirmation of monthly compensation rates for board members.

Director Tanya Prince, serving as acting chair at the meeting, was nominated and elected chair by roll call; each board member stated “I vote for director Prince” when called, resulting in six votes in favor and Prince’s election as chair. Director Thomas Brooks was elected vice chair by roll call with six votes. Director Keith Tate was elected board clerk with six votes, and Director Sarah Mitchell was elected board treasurer with six votes. Director Prince said, “I accept the nomination.”

Earlier in the meeting the board accepted the agenda as presented. The board then voted 6 to 0 to adopt the 2025 compensation levels at the same rates used in 2024: $1,350 per month for the board chair and $12.50 per month for all other members, with the monthly rates reported as inclusive of a $50 monthly reimbursement for in‑district mileage and incidental expenses. The motion adopting compensation was made by Director Thomas Brooks and seconded by Director Sarah Mitchell and passed 6 to 0.

The consent agenda was approved 6 to 0 (motion by Director Kelsey Dawson, second by Director Thomas Brooks). The board also approved the list of school board committee and joint board representatives for 2025 as printed (motion by Director Sarah Mitchell, second by Director Thomas Brooks), with the motion passing 6 to 0.

No substantive policy debates or external agreements were discussed at length during the organizational meeting; informational items on the agenda included the board operating protocols (resolution protocol and agenda-setting protocol) and notice of a public work session immediately following adjournment. The board secretary collected required signature documents before the board took a 10-minute recess and convened the work session.

Votes at a glance

- Acceptance of agenda as presented — Moved by Director Kelsey Dawson; seconded by Director Sarah Mitchell; outcome: approved, vote 6–0. - Election of chair (Tanya Prince) — Nomination: Tanya Prince; roll call vote recorded as six votes in favor; outcome: elected chair. - Election of vice chair (Thomas Brooks) — Nomination: Thomas Brooks; roll call vote recorded as six votes in favor; outcome: elected vice chair. - Election of board clerk (Keith Tate) — Nomination: Keith Tate; roll call vote recorded as six votes in favor; outcome: elected board clerk. - Election of board treasurer (Sarah Mitchell) — Nomination: Sarah Mitchell; roll call vote recorded as six votes in favor; outcome: elected board treasurer. - Adopt 2025 compensation at 2024 rates (chair $1,350/month; other members $12.50/month; includes $50/month reimbursement) — Moved by Director Thomas Brooks; seconded by Director Sarah Mitchell; outcome: approved, vote 6–0. - Approve consent agenda — Moved by Director Kelsey Dawson; seconded by Director Thomas Brooks; outcome: approved, vote 6–0. - Approve school board committee and joint board representatives for 2025 (as listed in the proposed document) — Moved by Director Sarah Mitchell; seconded by Director Thomas Brooks; outcome: approved, vote 6–0. - Adjourn organizational meeting and recess to work session — Moved by Director Kelsey Dawson; seconded by Director Erica Foster; outcome: approved, vote 6–0; meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m.

The organizational meeting was largely procedural: nominations, brief acceptance remarks by nominees and roll call votes. The board indicated a public work session would follow in the forum room at the Educational Service Center. No legislation, contracts, budgets, or policy adoptions beyond the operating protocols were finalized during this session.