Sartell-St. Stephen School Board Will Try Again Friday to Make Decision Regarding 21 Employee Contracts

(KNSI) — The Sartell-St. Stephen School Board failed to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, June 25th, due to a lack of quorum. So, the fate of 21 employee contracts hinges on what gets done at Friday’s meeting.

Emily Larson, Jen Smith and Scott Wenshau were absent on the 25th, so KNSI News contacted the three, asking why they missed the meeting. Smith responded she couldn’t attend because she didn’t receive an official notice in time to get someone to cover her work shift. Emails obtained by KNSI News show the meeting had been discussed since June 18th. The emails also show multiple attempts to change the meeting date because at least one of them didn’t believe they would be able to attend. Wenshau told KNSI he was traveling and out of the area at the time of the meeting. Larson stated her husband works until 9:30 on Tuesdays, and she had an appointment for her child in St. Michael. All three were offered the option to attend the meeting virtually.

The six members have been deadlocked three to three since February over the nonunion and mostly administrative contracts for directors and specialists. The issue is whether to vote on them together or individually. Three want to separate the deals in an act they call “reasonable and transparent.” School officials fear seperating the contracts could result in employees getting fired due to personal vendettas.

The request to separate the deals has failed four times, and the contracts expire on June 30th. The board’s failure to approve them would result in the loss of health insurance for the 21 employees, and some worry it will cause operational disruptions. The workers would also be free to find jobs elsewhere.

The district lost students last year and faces a $1.7 million deficit.

The new special school board meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on June 28th at Sartell High School. You can watch the meeting live by clicking here.

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