Central

Position Type:
Communications/Communications Specialist

Location:
Educational Service Center

Closing Date:
11/18/2022

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the school/community relations director, proactively inform stakeholders about Osseo Area Schools. Establish and maintain cooperative and supportive relationships with employees, current and prospective students/families, community members, and media. Identify strategic public relations opportunities and create and implement communication plans to achieve system public relations goals. Coordinate multiple tasks and varying deadlines.

A communications specialist for Osseo Area Schools has daily opportunities to build relationships with employees, students, community members, and media, all for the purpose of helping achieve our district’s bold mission for children.

In this job, no day is the same. You might write for the web, take photos at a school, pitch a story to media, manage social media, work on a communication plan, design collateral, or help with crisis communication. Strong writing, photography, web strategy and design, and graphics skills are essential.

Successful candidates are strategic thinkers, inquisitive and can produce high-quality work under deadline.

Responsibilities and tasks include:

Write for a variety of audiences, purposes, and formats including print/electronic newsletters, websites, news releases, presentations and other materials.
Create, compile and effectively share news of students, employees, alumni, system and site achievements through varied and appropriate channels.
Attend, photograph and report on programs and events for publications, recognition, and system promotion.
Develop effective relationships with media and respond to media requests.
Create and implement content updates for district and school websites, district intranet and social media channels.
Coordinate and implement various communications projects.
Assist with management of public events and activities.
Assist with crisis communications.
Ensure communication with internal and external stakeholders is consistent, clear, positive, proactive, and two-way.
In consultation with school/community relations director, set and monitor communications goals and objectives.
Regularly assess system communication efforts to ensure that goals are being met and any necessary adjustments and improvements are made.

Minimum qualifications include:

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or related field, plus three years of related professional experience. Experience working in education and/or knowledge of the Osseo Area Schools community preferred. Must be able to work occasional weekend or evening hours and travel between school buildings as part of the job.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

Knowledge of communication planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of journalism and media relations.
Proficient in the creation and management of web content (Finalsite content management system preferred) and social media content.
Proficient in the use of current technology required for the performance of duties, including desktop publishing, photo editing (Adobe products preferred), and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software (Google Suite preferred).
Effective collaboration with community relations team members, other departments and employees.
Interacting effectively with diverse (racially, culturally, linguistically) individuals and groups in a variety of settings.
Being resourceful, self-directed, responsible, a problem solver and a skilled communicator.
Being a critical thinker with professional judgment. This includes the ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems; and to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions in order to choose the most appropriate one.
Adaptability and flexibility to meet extenuating circumstances and crisis needs.

Job type or FTE: Full-time

Bargaining unit: Salaried Professionals

Desired start date: TBD

Osseo Area Schools offers:

Meaningful and impactful work
Opportunities to grow professionally
A variety of benefits and more

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 is an Equal Opportunity, and veteran-friendly employer.

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Osseo Area School District is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the district and strongly encourages persons to apply who can strengthen our diversity. For more information, view the District’s Equal Opportunity and Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Violence Policy.

Veteran’s Preference: If you are an eligible veteran, please submit a legible copy of your DD214 with your application.

Accommodation: If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email Human Resources at [email protected] or call 763-391-7007.

Background Check Upon Conditional Offer:

Background checks are conducted upon receiving a conditional offer. Employees must complete a background check and are responsible for the background fee. A passing background is required.  Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Job summary:  To inspire and prepare each and every scholar with the confidence, courage, and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning through level one technical services that support accessible, equitable and user-friendly systems with training that supports all users to effectively and efficiently achieve the district mission.  Osseo Area Schools is Minnesota’s 5th largest school district. This position will be a part of the Instructional and Informational Technology Team (I2T2) which provides technical support to approximately 21,000 students and 3,000 staff members across 31 site locations. This includes the management of approximately 9,000 classroom/staff computers and 21,000 student mobile devices. With support from technical support specialists, repair technicians, network administrators and school staff, this position works to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction with technology services.

Responsibilities and tasks include:

•   Provide first-level installation, diagnosis, repair, and maintenance on all computing devices and peripheral classroom hardware and equipment, including network connections
• Provide first-level technical support using procedures and tools established by District-Level Technical Support;
• Document daily activities in the work order system and escalate to second level as needed;
• Provide training and instruction in the use of classroom, mobile, and instructional technologies;
• Provide inventory of hardware and software as requested; and,
• Perform other comparable duties of a like or similar nature as assigned.

Minimum qualifications include:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Highly motivated self-starter with a strong work ethic.
• Communicates effectively and confidently, both verbally and in writing.
• Proficiency to troubleshoot hardware, software and explain current technology to end-users
• Ability to use a variety of operating systems, including Windows, ChromeOS, and iOS.
• Ability to respond to help desk requests via telephone, help desk software, and email
• Ability to travel to different sites during the workday.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

•  Strong customer service orientation – dedication to customer needs; understanding the customer’s sense of urgency.
• Demonstrate initiative and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Excellent organizational skills in prioritizing and documenting needs.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Flexibility, resilience, and tolerance for ambiguity.
• Ability to collaborate effectively

Preferred qualifications include:

•  Experience working in a K-12 school setting
• Proficiency in a language other than English (Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Vietnamese)

Work schedule: 6 hours/day; 5 days/week;

Job type or FTE: full-time; school year (260/261 days/year)

Bargaining unit: Educational Support Professional

Desired start date: October 24, 2022

Osseo Area Schools offers:

•  Meaningful and impactful work
• Opportunities to grow professionally
• A variety of benefits
• Mentorship programs for teachers and educational support professionals
• Summer opportunities and more

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 is an Equal Opportunity, and veteran-friendly employer.

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Osseo Area School District is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the district and strongly encourages persons to apply who can strengthen our diversity. For more information, view the District’s Equal Opportunity and Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Violence Policy.

Veteran’s Preference: If you are an eligible veteran, please submit a legible copy of your DD214 with your application.

Accommodation: If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email Human Resources at [email protected] or call 763-391-7007.

Background Check Upon Conditional Offer:

Background checks are conducted upon receiving a conditional offer. Employees must complete a background check and are responsible for the background fee. A passing background is required.  Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Job summary:

Assist students and driver in the transportation of students.

Responsibilities and tasks include:

•  Provide a safe and positive experience for students on special education and general education buses.
• Assist/accompany child in loading and unloading by operating wheelchair lift or holding hand/arm to support child.
• Responsible for securing students in wheel chairs, assisting and securing students into booster seats, and securing students in safety vests.
• Cooperates with the driver in maintaining good ridership control.  Corrects disruptive behavior by singing, talking or providing distractions on the bus.
• Works with drivers and students to promote positive behavior on special education and general education buses by utilizing our Positive Behavior Interventions Supports (PBIS), bus behavior matrix and bus bucks program.
• Assist students in keeping clothes on, being sure articles are not left behind, etc.  Be sure students are comfortable and special seat or equipment stays secured; e.g., wheelchair brake.
• Cooperate and communicate with teachers, nurse and parents regarding student behavior/problems.  Give/receive information pertaining to problems.  Informs parents of students’ behavior.
• Communicate with transportation office regarding problems with pick-up areas, excessive tardiness and other special problems encountered in providing services.  Informs of severe deviation/problems, e.g., problem student, extreme delays in picking up students, no parent to greet the child, etc.
• Complete Bus Conduct and Incident Communications on student’s transportation problems as they arise.
• Attend monthly ESP meetings to learn and collaborate on bus ESP issues.
• ESP’s will be required to work with two school district calendars.  Some students attend District 287 and will require ESP’s to work on NON-OSSEO days.
• Ability to log into district website to report hours worked weekly and review emails as needed.
• Assist with answering phones and addressing transportation related questions.
• Ability to perform data entry.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum qualifications include:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to perform tasks or work with children.
• Ability to attend to physical needs of students.
• Ability to work inside and outside school bus and in the elements.
• Experience with persons with disabilities desired.

Work schedule: 6 hours/day Part-Time; 5 days/week Split Shift (A.M. / P.M.)

Job type : Part-time, school year

Bargaining unit: Educational Support Professional

Osseo Area Schools offers:

•  Meaningful and impactful work
• Opportunities to grow professionally
• A variety of benefits
• Mentorship programs for teachers and educational support professionals
• Summer opportunities and more

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 is an Equal Opportunity, and veteran-friendly employer.

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Osseo Area School District is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the district and strongly encourages persons to apply who can strengthen our diversity. For more information, view the District’s Equal Opportunity and Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Violence Policy.

Veteran’s Preference: If you are an eligible veteran, please submit a legible copy of your DD214 with your application.

Accommodation: If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email Human Resources at [email protected] or call 763-391-7007.

Background Check Upon Conditional Offer:

Background checks are conducted upon receiving a conditional offer. Employees must complete a background check and are responsible for the background fee. A passing background is required.  Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Job summary:  Assist students and driver in the transportation of students.

Responsibilities and tasks include:

• Directing student movements and vehicle traffic in school lots.
• Providing increased visibility to promote safety
• Directing student movement at designated locations near school sites.
• Conveying crossing rules and other safety information to students and adults while performing duties.
• Directing traffic movement and/or warning of hazards, using signs, flags and hand signals.
• Monitoring traffic flow to determine when students can safely cross streets.
• Documenting incidents or student management concerns using the appropriate reporting system.
• Encouraging appropriate student behavior.
• Establishing positive connections with students.
• Being a positive role model.
• Participating in professional development opportunities to ensure appropriate training for essential job accountabilities.
• Communicating with transportation office regarding concerns with pick-up and drop-off areas, and other special issues encountered in and around school sites.
• Ensuring data privacy for confidential information.
• Communicating with appropriate personnel as dictated by Federal, State Mandates and school district policy.
• Participating in required trainings including but not limited to monthly ESP staff meetings and annual school start-up meeting.
• Understanding the use and location of traffic control devices.
• Discussing and reviewing traffic flow routing plans of school sites with supervisor.
• Performing additional appropriate job related duties as assigned by a Supervisor.

Minimum qualifications include:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Modeling the attributes of an efficacious learner: resourceful, self-directed, responsible, problem solver and skilled communicator.
• Developing collaborative working relationships with students, staff, bus drivers and community.
• Adapting to changing daily schedules.
• Adapting to changing weather.
• Working with students, families and staff of diverse backgrounds.
• Using a computer to input hours worked for payroll and access school district provided email
• Must be able to be at multiple school sites during the day.

Work schedule:  6 hours/day Part-Time; 5 days/week Split Shift (A.M. / P.M.)

Job type or FTE:  Part-time, school year

Bargaining unit: Educational Support Professional

Osseo Area Schools offers:

•  Meaningful and impactful work
• Opportunities to grow professionally
• A variety of benefits
• Mentorship programs for teachers and educational support professionals
• Summer opportunities and more

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 is an Equal Opportunity, and veteran-friendly employer.

Osseo Area School District ISD 279 ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Osseo Area School District is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the district and strongly encourages persons to apply who can strengthen our diversity. For more information, view the District’s Equal Opportunity and Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Violence Policy.

Veteran’s Preference: If you are an eligible veteran, please submit a legible copy of your DD214 with your application.

Accommodation: If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email Human Resources at [email protected] or call 763-391-7007.

Background Check Upon Conditional Offer:

Background checks are conducted upon receiving a conditional offer. Employees must complete a background check and are responsible for the background fee. A passing background is required.  Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

Job Type: Part-time, school year
Bargaining Unit: School Nutrition
Salary Range: Per Contract

General Purpose of Job:

To inspire and prepare all scholars with the confidence, courage and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning by assisting in preparing and serving quality and nutritious meals to students and staff.  Contribute to a positive kitchen team that builds relationships with students, building staff and community members.

Responsibilities:

Menu/Inventory

• Assists in the implementation of breakfast and lunch, and special events including, but not limited to, Fruit and Vegetable Grant, After School Snack Program, Dinner Program, Summer Programs , etc.;
• Assist in serving quality meals on time every day regardless of challenges with food, equipment or staffing;
• Assists in determining and ordering appropriate quantities of food and supplies that are necessary for the efficient operation of the building meal program as needed.

Food Preparation and Equipment

• Assists in preparing and serving meals, washing dishes, cleaning equipment and facilities as needed;
• Understands, follows, and may train in the proper procedures for safety and use of food service equipment;
• Assists in calculating quantities of food to be prepared each day while minimizing food waste;
• Uses and assists in training staff on the use of standardized recipes to ensure serving of safe food and USDA requirements are met for all students;
• Maintains a positive work environment where staff feel welcome and valued;
• Attends in- service meetings and trainings for the purpose of gathering information required to perform job functions;
• Maintains temperature logs when necessary to ensure safety;
• Ensures proper receiving and storage procedures are maintained by following current sanitation guidelines;
• Supports department continuous improvement program by accomplishing goals.

Financial:

• Provides accurate and complete information to manager regarding daily menu and food production records.

Other Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with nutrition staff, building staff and community members;
• Responds to questions and concerns in a timely manner;
• Uses creative ways to connect with students to seek their input and build positive relationships;
• Communicates effectively with students, families and staff to maintain positive relationships;
• Recognizes and acknowledges concerns and proactively works with others to find solutions.
• Understands and follows USDA and MDE meal pattern regulations;
• Follows all local and district health safety codes;
• Completes annual health and safety training;
• Follows all current uniform guidelines and Osseo Area Schools Food and Nutrition personal hygiene procedures;
• Helps in passing bi-annual health inspections.

Skilled in:

• Interacting positively and building relationships with all stakeholders;
• Proper use of commercial kitchen equipment to minimize accidents, safety, and sanitation concerns;
• Being agile and ability to move quickly;
• Attending to detail;
• Making quick, logical and decisive decisions as daily challenges occur;
• Developing positive relationships with students, staff and community;
• Creating a safe and caring work environment where staff feel welcome and valued;
• Communicating effectively using good interpersonal skills;
• Understanding and following Nutrition Services processes including, but not limited, to standardized recipes, labels, safety data sheets, cooking and cleaning procedures.

Job Type: Full-time, school year w/benefits
Bargaining Unit: School Nutrition
Salary Range: Per Contract

General Purpose of the Job:

To inspire and prepare each and every scholar with the confidence, courage, and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning.  Assist the manager in planning, preparing and serving the daily meal pattern.  Assists the Nutrition Manager in planning all aspects of the school foodservice operation that directly affects quality, safety, and sanitation of a school food service facility. This includes compliance with health, safety, and USDA-Child Nutrition Program regulations.  Assists the Nutrition Manager with developing a positive kitchen team that builds relationships with students, building staff and community members.  Assists the Nutrition Manager with the development of new processes and the implementation of department continuous improvement plans.

Responsibilities:

Menu/Inventory:

• Participates in breakfast menu planning meetings so that menus are designed to maximize student and staff participation while ensuring all meals meet USDA nutritional requirements.
• In the absence of the Nutrition Manager, participates in lunch menu planning and monthly district nutrition manager meetings.
• In addition to breakfast and lunch programs, assists the Nutrition Manager to plan and offer the following programs included, but not limited to the following: Fruit and Vegetable Grant, After School Snack Program, Dinner Program, Summer Programs, and Special Events etc.
• Serves quality meals on time every day regardless of challenges with food, equipment, or staffing.

Assists Nutrition Manager:

• In determining and ordering appropriate quantities of food and supplies from multiple vendors that are necessary for the efficient operation of the building meal program.
• Calculating quantities of food to be prepared each day while minimizing food waste.
• Scheduling personnel efficiently to meet building needs while staying within budget.
• Ensuring that staff are cross trained and mentored to achieve their potential.
• Maintaining temperature logs on all appropriate equipment to ensure safety.
• Compiling and maintaining accurate daily menu and food production records.
• Taking appropriate action to ensure an efficient operation that meets food, supply and labor budgets objectives.

Staff/Food Preparation/Equipment:

• Train staff on the consistent use of standardized recipes to ensure meeting USDA requirements for students with special dietary needs and food allergies.
• Managing staff in efficient food preparation to prepare food that is at the highest quality.
• Ensure proper receiving and storage procedures are maintained by implementing HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) sanitation guidelines.
• Train and supervise nutrition staff on proper usage, sanitation, and safety of kitchen equipment.
• Supports department continuous improvement program by engaging nutrition staff in accomplishing goals.
• Maintains a positive work environment where staff feel welcome and valued.
• Maintains strict employee confidentiality.

Tasks involved in fulfilling above duty/responsibility:

• Helps the staff connect the school district mission, core values and district priority work to their staff’s daily work.
• Builds community by appropriately staffing, planning, and supporting successful special events.
• Encourages collaboration among nutrition staff, building staff, and community members.
• Responds to all questions and concerns in a timely and respectful manner.
• Makes school orientations, open houses and school events opportunities to help students, families, and staff feel welcome and respected.
• Uses creative ways to connect with students to seek their input (student food committees, taste testing, and use of suggestion box for feedback)
• Communicates effectively with students, families, and staff to maintain positive relationships. Must be willing to acknowledge concerns and work together toward finding a solution
• Understands and helps ensure that all USDA and MDE requirements are being followed.
• Understands and helps ensure that local health safety codes are consistently being practiced by nutrition staff.  Successfully passes bi- annual inspections by local public health officials.
• Assists Nutrition Manager with ensuring all staff follows current uniform guidelines and Osseo Area Schools Food and Nutrition personal hygiene procedures.

Qualifications:

EDUCATION:  High school graduate or equivalent.  Child Nutrition Certificate (Level I) preferred.

SKILLS:

• Ability to work with people of all ages
• Assists nutrition manager with leading and organizing quantity food preparation and efficient employee work schedules
• Assists nutrition manager with accurately forecasting and ordering the necessary food and supplies
• Assists nutrition manager with overseeing and delegating a variety of tasks with time deadlines that are not flexible
• Assists nutrition manager with good attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records
• Assists nutrition manager with ability to make quick, logical, and decisive decisions as daily challenges occur
• Assists nutrition manager with daily problem solving that generates timely and appropriate solutions
• Assists nutrition manager with capable of building a team that is able to develop a positive relationship with students, staff, and community
• Assists nutrition manager with creating a safe and caring work environment where staff feel welcome and valued
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Basic computer skills that include but are not limited to word processing, excel, online ordering systems, email, and more.