In its Monday, July 12, meeting, the Pequot Lakes School Board approved its 2021-2023 master agreement with Education Minnesota-Pequot Lakes teachers.
“I want to thank our teachers that were part of that process and the teachers that voted on the contract,” board chair Kim Bolz-Andolshek said. “It was probably one of the quickest, most effective and most efficient negotiations I have ever been a part of.”
The biggest change in the contract - which Bolz-Andolshek said has been attempted for nearly a decade - was a shift to paid time off for teachers. At the beginning of each school year, a teacher shall be credited with 12 days of PTO to be used as the individual chooses. All 12 PTO days must be used before banked leave days - used only for illnesses - can be accessed.
In other action Monday, the board:
Approved the district’s 10-year facilities maintenance plan, which is done annually.
Approved a memorandum of understanding with EMPL teachers regarding the transition of accrued leave time.
Conducted a first reading of potential changes to the district’s Title IX sex nondiscrimination policy, as regulations changed at the federal level. The board will conduct three readings before voting on the measure.
Accepted two donations to the district - both from the Patriot Activities Club - totaling $1,100, as well as four donations to the student activity fund account totaling $1,570.30.
As a part of its consent agenda, the board accepted the resignation of custodian Kendra Tscheu and the hiring of information, data and assessment coordinator Kerri Nordby, elementary office clerk Robin Olson, accounting clerk Bonnie Rlategraff, band teacher Tavis Juran, early childhood teacher Emily Patnode, elementary special education teach Jeff Tvedt, theater tech Nancy Ryan and night custodian Zoila Lowr.
The meeting was the first for interim superintendent Kurt Stumpf.
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Dan Determan may be reached at 218-855-5879 or dan.determan@pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Dan.
