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A few dozen North Branch schools staff members filled the school board meeting room last week to call attention to the unresolved contract talks.  The visitors wore red T shirts and carried small signs with “196 days” (without a contract from July 1) printed on them.  No one from the contingent spoke.

North Branch Area Public School District has some company this year, not having the two-year contract cycle all wrapped by January. According to the teacher organization Education Minnesota, only about 100 of over 300 districts had agreements by the end of December 2023, for what would cover 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.

The School Board went about its 2024 organizational business with member Adam Trampe absent.

The officers remain the same, Tim MacMillan is chair, Sarah Grovender is vice chair. 

Pay stayed the same at $60 per meeting and $125 for rare occasions a meeting runs over four hours.  The annual additional pay of $800 for chair, $500 for vice chair and clerk and treasurer $300 was maintained. Board meetings continue to be the second and fourth Thursday evenings monthly.

Director of Finance Todd Tetzlaff got the approval to move ahead on some ventilation and heat/air systems repairs needed at the high school. Ham Lake-based company, Cool Air Mechanical Inc. was recommended as the best of three bids received—for $94,000. 

The air handling controls will be replaced or repaired during times when no students are in the building.

The second reading of the district’s calendar was approved. (First reading was in December). The dates for 2024-2025 will be distributed as soon as possible. 

 First day is Sept. 4, 2024.  Graduation is June 8, 2025.  Spring break is March 10-14.  Holiday winter break is December 23 through Jan 1.

 

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