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FAIRMONT - As multiple new laws and changes took effect July 1 from the state legislature, Fairmont Area Schools found themselves ahead of the curve with some changes already implemented.
Starting July 1, all school districts must either begin work on an anonymous threat reporting system so schools can receive tips regarding dangerous, violent, harmful, or potentially harmful activity that has occurred or been threatened, or direct parents to the Department of Public Safety's statewide threat reporting system.
A policy for this system must be put in place by June 30, 2027, and the system itself operational by July 1, 2028.
Fortunately for Fairmont Area Schools, a plan has already been in motion for years.
"Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, our Jr/Sr high school principals worked to establish a system for anonymous reporting of any concerning behavior at our Jr/Sr high school," Superintendent Andy Traetow said. "It has grown to where students can access it on their student hyperdoc at the Jr/Sr high school, as well as use anonymous reporting QR codes throughout the building to report any concerning behavior."
From there, Traetow said a notification goes to their student support team members, and a process is ignited to make sure the situation is responded to in a timely manner.
Kicking off with the Minnesota Safe and Supportive Schools Act that was enacted from the 2013-2014 legislative session, which required schools to take a more proactive approach to concerning behavior, Traetow said this anonymous reporting system came as the next step in a line of growing and developing.
"This was something that, as our administrative team reviewed our safety and security protocols and procedures, they viewed as a next step at that time to enhance the communication and make it more readily available for our students to do that."
Prior to this, the school district had a physical drop box for students to leave notes in. So far, Traetow said the anonymous reporting has had a positive impact on the school community through being as proactive as possible about this issue, with information provided by students.
Starting July 1, a teacher's licensing board must be notified by the local police department or county sheriff if said teacher is charged with a criminal offense that triggers automatic license denial, refusal to renew, revocation without a hearing, or any other offense that requires registration as a predatory offender.
Traetow said the school district is very gracious to have a good working relationship with the local police department and sheriff’s office, and that this law change adds another layer of communication between the two on behalf of the community.
"We have great people working in our school systems locally and regionally," Traetow said. "We feel we do a great job of hiring people that we’re putting in front of our kids to ultimately care for them and provide the highest quality education. Anytime you can enhance and improve communication, I think that’s a good thing."
Two smaller changes include confirming that paraprofessionals who demonstrate work skill competencies do meet state and federal requirements for paraprofessionals, and schools can now use operating capital revenue to pay utility service costs.
On the paraprofessional front, Traetow said they had known for the last two years of this change and worked with the Southern Plains Educational Cooperative on this matter to find high-quality paraprofessionals.
"For the last two school years now, we’ve had structures and systems in place where when we hire paraprofessionals, if at that point they do not meet the pre-established requirements by the state of Minnesota, we work with them to complete the assessment that is required for them to show they are considered highly qualified by the requirements of the state of Minnesota," he said.
Generally, Traetow said utility service costs are budgeted through general fund allocations. Currently, Traetow said they are examining their options to see if this will still be the case or if they will choose a different option going forward with their 2027 budget. Regardless, he said this will provide greater flexibility for the school district going forward.
"It allows us another source of revenue to pay our utility service costs, starting in essence effective immediately. It’s a positive for school districts because now they have additional options to meet those financial obligations."
Looking forward, Traetow said funding and student safety are two topics he is watching out for in future legislative discussions.
"The Blue Ribbon Commission was tasked with looking at an extensive amount of budgetary adjustments for public school districts," he said. "School safety is always an important thing too, to make sure we’re putting things in place to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for our kids, teachers and community members who engage with their school districts."
On top of this, Traetow said there needs to be continued mindfulness for changes supporting teachers in their daily work and meeting state requirements.
"We’re continuing to work through those things and are looking forward to the future of what’s to come," he said.