Sartell-St. Stephen School Board Meeting Halted by Member Absences; Contracts for 21 Employees Left in Limbo

(KNSI) – A special meeting of the Sartell-St. Stephen School Board on Tuesday to settle 21 controversial employee contracts was called off when only half the members showed up.

The board took a five-minute recess to try to call missing members Emily Larson, Jen Smith and Scott Wenshau, but they were unable to reach them. Board chair Tricia Meling spoke to the standing-room-only crowd, stating she was deeply saddened because they had serious work to do. “These positions are not just numbers. They represent real people with real lives and families that are depending on them. It is unjust for the board to hold these individuals’ lives in limbo.”

Since February, the six board members have been deadlocked three to three on whether to approve the deals in one motion or vote on each individually. Board members Larson, Smith and Wenshau support separation and a discussion of each employee’s pay “as reasonable and transparent.”

The other three board members, Chair Meling, Jason Nies and Matt Moehrle, support approving the agreements with one motion, just as it has been done in the past. Some school staff fear separating the contracts could result in employees being fired over personal vendettas.

Unless the board takes action by June 30th, all 21 of the workers will lose their health insurance for at least 30 days. “These positions are vital, and the district will need to consider whether it can maintain all activities and services. As board members, we were elected to manage the district in good faith. This means showing up for important meetings that impact the operation of the school district,” said Meling.

KNSI News reached out to the three absent members, asking why they missed the meeting. Smith responded that she wasn’t able to attend because she didn’t receive an official notice in time to get someone to cover her work shift. Wenshau told KNSI he was traveling and was out of the area at the time of the meeting. Larson stated her husband worked late on Tuesday, and she needed to take care of her child.

Meling has set another meeting to vote on the contracts for Friday at 5:00 p.m.

She stated in the future, conversations and concerns among the board should be discussed in front of the public at school board meetings and not on social media or in unofficial press releases to the media.

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