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‘Agreement’ was the word of the night at last week’s North Branch School Board meeting— with action finalizing contracts for teachers that expired last July, and approving the apprenticeship program Memoranda of Understanding with teachers and support staff.

First, the apprentice program.

In 2021 the U.S. Department of Labor officially established K-12 teaching as an apprenticeship occupation.  This cleared the decks for Minnesota to establish a Regional Apprenticeship Program for Teachers.  This allows people to work alongside teachers and receive compensation while they gain skills for getting their license to teach. The specially compensated “journey teacher” mentors and assists the apprentice, who under this program will be concurrently “enrolled” in Mankato State University’s roster.

Don’t even try to picture how many different institutions, groups and rulebooks were involved in putting this together over the last almost  three years.  

School Board Chair Tim MacMillan commented when the Board approved the Memoranda of Understanding,  that “...this is a big deal.  This is visionary.”  

He offered kudos to all involved, and noted the superintendent as willing to put forth the effort to place North Branch in the forefront of districts in the state, who combined, are dealing with an estimated 13,000 unfilled positions.

The Chair stressed, “Her (Supt. Paul’s) experience with the state Board helped develop our MOU, which is the only one in the state” (as of the Board meeting.

This is to create incentives for people to enter the teaching profession and “earn as they learn” but it’s also been a lesson in cooperation, for the agencies and educators willing to innovate to bring professional teachers to the field.

“The power of We”

Supt. Sara Paul has been integral  from the get-go as she was appointed to a MN Apprenticeship Board, that helped design the emerging rules and structure.  

NBEA Union President David Gryte also supported North Branch being involved and promoted staff understanding when the district notified Department of Labor and Industry that North Branch would have a local presence. (Story Press March 21, 2024)

The MN Dept. of Labor and Industry now needs to complete its review of North Branch’s plan, and then the district will be positioned to apply for grants to make it all happen.

In other employee related progress, the teachers’ contract covering 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 was ratified by the union in the past couple weeks, and accepted by the Board April 11.

Negotiations were necessary to finalize language for safe and sick time and wages for steps and lane scales in the first and second years, according to presenter Todd Tetzlaff, Director of Finance ad Human Resources.  The Early Childhood teachers who have Masters Degrees saw a “lane” added in the salary schedule and steps at the top of the scale.  Teachers adopting a child will have an available leave.  The district contributed $50 more for health insurance premiums to offset increases to employees. Salary was increased by five percent in the first year  (the contract expired last July) and four percent in year two. 

The School Board also took action (member Sarah Grovender was absent) revising substitute teacher compensation.  Board member Heather Naegele, who is a sub,  abstained.

The full day pay was increased to $180 from $160 and the half-day substitute will earn $90, up from $80.  Incentive pay was not revised;  North Branch allows for an extra $5 per full day for a sub who has worked the equivalent of 50 full days in a preceding school year.  Long term subs (31 days or more) have a salary based on the appropriate step and lane from the salary schedule, considering the substitute teacher’s education and experience.

This substitute pay revision action is effective May 6. 

For all employers in general— the Board also heard the second reading for adopting a cannabis policy, being added to the rules prohibiting drugs and alcohol.

The high school National Honor Society blood drive March 27 had 51 donors.   

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