VIRGINIA - District 2142 board members had plenty to say about a proposal to allow the district to advertise for three new social worker positions that was debated at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
General support was expressed for the positions, which would serve the district’s three largest schools, North Woods, South Ridge, and Cherry.
“This is something I think we really need,” board member Lynette Zupetz said.
However, the board was less enthusiastic about the social workers’ proposed classification.
“Are they at-will?” board member Chris Koivisto asked.
Superintendent Reggie Engebritson responded that they would be on teaching contracts.
Members questioned why teaching contracts would be appropriate for social workers.
“Why put them on the teacher contract?” Chet Larson said.
“I don’t understand why we’d prefer that,” Christina Taylor added. “There’s so much extraneous stuff in the contract. My preference would be they not be on a teacher contract.”
Engebritson responded that a teaching contract, with the assurance of continuing status after a three-year probationary period, would provide social workers, who like teachers are licensed, with additional employment security. At-will employees can be terminated at any time.
Koivisto suggested at-will employment provided needed flexibility relative to funding. Money to pay the estimated $240,000 expense will come from multiple sources, including cost savings by cutting Range Mental Health Center services by 50 percent at the targeted schools.
“I don’t know how long we’re going to need them or where the money will come from in the future,” Kovisto said. “It’s a lot of money to put down and gamble it will fix the problem.”
Taylor reinforced the flexibility advantage of at-will employment.
“What these couple last years have taught me is that it’s supposed to be much easier to change their job description if they’re at-will. At-will provides flexibility outside of the contract.”
Zupetz voiced concern about a possible unintended consequence of making the social workers at-will employees.
“If they’re at-will, will they show up every day at work if we need them?” she said.
Larsen proposed an alternative of using contracts similar to district nurses. He suggested the board would benefit from further discussion at an upcoming study session before moving ahead. Koivisto agreed, moving to table the matter.
Subsequent to its annual review of Indian education services, the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee provided written notification to the board of district shortcomings.
“We attest that the school board and/or district are not compliant with Minnesota Statutes and that the school board and/or district are not meeting the needs of American Indian students,” said the notice, signed by AIPAC chairperson Hannah Lehti.
A one-page handwritten note accompanying the formal notice identified three recommendations for improvement. One dealt with implementing Indian culture classes twice a week for Kindergarten through sixth grade, a second proposed language classes for grades nine through 12 that would count toward college language requirements, and a third requested American Indian Curriculum Standards be distributed to all teachers at the beginning of every school year.
“Is this the whole gist of their complaint?” Larson said.
“What guidance do they have?” Koivisto interjected. “What are the standards?”
Indian Education Director Anne Christensen responded.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for you,” she said. “I’m going to be honest and blunt with you. I’m kind of flying blind at the moment.”
AIPAC certified the district as compliant last year, Christensen said. She reported she had contacted the state office of Indian education and was informed that a letter would be coming with additional information. The board will have 60 days to report back to AIPAC, she said.
“Last week after this happened, I did put in the 2142 newsletter a link to find the standards online,” Christensen said. “They want a copy of those standards sent to the teachers at the beginning of every school year. That’s easily fixed.”
A mechanism already exists that could address the language class concern, Christensen said. Money has been set aside in the Indian Education approved plan to pay for students to take online classes for Ojibwe, but it hasn’t been publicized well. A line could be added to student registration forms stating that the classes are available.
“I just kind of worry that this could be opening a real can of worms,” Zupetz said. “We’re doing Ojibwe, what about Spanish? What about Italian? Especially this part where K through six has to have its Ojibwe class twice a week.”
In other business, the board:
• Hired Elijah Lopac and Jon Evridge as full-time paraprofessionals and Julie Smith as part-time library assistant and part-time ECFE teacher aide at Northeast Range.
• Re-hired returning spring sports coaches at North Woods and Northeast Range.
• Accepted the resignations of Northeast Range paraprofessionals Willem Cohen and Micca Leider.
• Rescinded a previous extension of probationary period for Tower-Soudan custodian Beth Anderson.