St. Francis Schools approves board members' employment as coaches
The St. Francis Area Schools board voted 6-1 on August 11 to approve employment of two current board members as coaches and substitute teachers, despite one board member's objection that the arrangement creates a conflict of interest.
The board approved resolutions allowing board members Brandon Nelson and Rob Shrock to work for the district in coaching and substitute teaching roles. Board Member West cast the sole dissenting vote on both resolutions, stating her consistent belief that employing board members in district positions represents a conflict of interest. No discussion preceded either vote.
In other business, the board unanimously approved several administrative matters. Superintendent Anderson was designated as the district's Identified Official with Authority, a role required by state law and the Public Employees Labor Relations Act. The board also approved a new pay structure for non-licensed staff who serve as coaches and activity advisors, mirroring the teacher agreement but including two initial pay steps not found in that agreement. Superintendent Anderson noted that removing these steps to achieve full alignment would cost approximately $14,000 annually.
The board approved activities fees for the 2026-2027 school year after discussing that general activity rates had not been raised in over 20 years. The district's fees currently fall in the middle range compared to other schools in the Mississippi conference. Board members asked whether fees cover the entire activities department budget—they do not—and sought clarification on a drum line fee increase, which was explained as a restructuring of existing supplemental fees. The board committed to conducting further review of potential fee increases in the coming year.
Superintendent Anderson reported on several district challenges and initiatives. The district is consolidating bus routes north of the high school due to bus driver shortages and budget constraints, with a shuttle service planned for affected students. He also announced the formation of a student discipline task force and publicly dispelled rumors about the district using "My Gender Dolls," clarifying that no such materials are being used in schools. Additionally, social studies teacher Ted Garing was recognized as Minnesota's social studies teacher of the year.
Oak Grove Mayor Western Rol visited the board to discuss city infrastructure projects, including a new city hall and fire department, road improvements, and a lawsuit against the Minnesota Secretary of State and Anoka County over election procedures. The mayor announced he will not seek re-election and praised the school district's collaboration.
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Votes (7)
Visitor Presentation: Mayor Western Rol, Oak Grove
Mayor Rol presented updates on local infrastructure projects, including the construction of a new city hall/fire department and several road improvements by Anoka County. He also discussed a lawsuit filed by Oak Grove against the Minnesota Secretary of State and Anoka County regarding the use of paper poll rosters for elections. The Mayor expressed gratitude for the collaboration with the school board and Superintendent Anderson, and announced his decision not to seek re-election.
Superintendent's Administrative Report
Superintendent Anderson reported on various district matters, including an award for social studies teacher Ted Garing, the challenge of having only two candidates for three school board seats, and a plan to consolidate transportation routes north of the high school to address bus driver shortages and budget constraints, which will include a shuttle service for students. He also detailed ongoing updates to student and family handbooks, the formation of a student discipline task force, positive outcomes from teacher development sessions, and clarified that the district is not using 'My Gender Dolls'. Board members raised questions about the notification process for families affected by bus route changes, the estimated cost savings from these changes, and the procedures for differentiating write-in candidates with similar names in the upcoming school board election. Concerns about student discipline were voiced, with hopes for meaningful change from the task force.
Approval of Annual Designation of an Identified Official with Authority (IOwA)
Moved by Member Anderson [34:25] · Seconded by Mr. Working [34:35]
The board considered and approved the annual designation of Superintendent Anderson as the district's Identified Official with Authority (IOwA). This role is required by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Public Employees Labor Relations Act, and Superintendent Anderson has served in this capacity for several years. There was no discussion from the board prior to the vote.
Approval of Schedule C and D for Non-Licensed Staff for 2526 and 2627 School Years
Moved by Member Anderson [36:55] · Seconded by Mr. Working [37:00]
Superintendent Anderson presented the Schedule C and D document, which outlines the pay structure for non-licensed staff who serve as coaches and activity advisors. He noted that this structure mirrors the teacher agreement but includes steps one and two, which are not present in the teacher agreement. He also mentioned that the possibility of removing these initial steps for non-licensed staff to achieve full alignment would incur an estimated annual cost of $14,000.
Approval of Activities Fees for 2627
Moved by Member Anderson [41:50] · Seconded by Mr. Working [42:00]
The board discussed and approved the activities fees for the 2026-2027 school year. It was noted that the general activity rates had not been raised in over 20 years, and the district's fees were currently in the middle range compared to others in the Mississippi conference. Questions arose about whether fees cover the entire activities department budget (they do not), and a specific inquiry regarding an increase in drum line fees was clarified as a restructuring of existing supplemental fees. The board expressed intent to conduct further due diligence on potential fee increases in the upcoming year.
Approval of Resolution for Employment of School Board Member (Brandon Nelson)
Dissent: Board Member West [45:50]
Moved by Member Anderson [43:50] · Seconded by Mr. Working [44:00]
The board voted on a resolution to approve the employment of board member Brandon Nelson as a substitute teacher and coach for the district. No specific discussion about this resolution took place before the vote. However, Board Member West later clarified her 'no' vote on this and the subsequent employment resolution, stating her consistent belief that such arrangements represent a conflict of interest.
Approval of Resolution for Employment of School Board Member (Rob Shrock)
Dissent: Board Member West [45:50]
Moved by Member Anderson [45:30] · Seconded by Mr. Working [45:40]
A resolution was presented for the approval of employment for board member Rob Shrock as a coach. Similar to the previous item, there was no specific discussion on this resolution before the vote. Board Member West voted against it, consistent with her stated belief that employing board members in district roles constitutes a conflict of interest.
Notable Quotes (11)
we are suing Minnesota Secretary of State and Noa County um to be able to use paper poll rosters for election day.
I would actually like to thank, there he is over there, Superintendent Carson Anderson. He has done a great job with our city.
I am not running for reelection. And so, at the end of the year, like a couple of you, I'm done.
The reason we're making those changes is that we are still having a hard time finding licensed bus drivers and of course we have budget reductions that we need to make. So this is a logical thing uh to consider.
literally today got an email from Melissa Kib who said that there were a bunch of kids using the parking lots with their ebikes, other motorized bikes, electric scooters and that kind of thing... So, we're going to include a provision in the handbook that somebody says that bikes and scooters and skateboards... needs to be pre-approved.
Just to reassure you, the state of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Education, no one has asked school, public schools to do any anything like that. This has not been asked. I I still don't know what a My Gender Doll is or if it even exists. Um, but it's irrelevant because, you know, we're not going to use my gender dogs or dolls in our in our schools.
I really am grateful um that we are putting together the student discipline tax task force. Um I'm impressed with the group that you got together... I think in general everyone's kind of tired of, you know, giving into the like the, you know, the the bad egg and and I I think there's a lot of support all around.
The teacher agreement has a schedule C and D that outlines how much we pay teachers to serve in that capacity. Uh but it does not include non-teers. And so the the document that's being presented tonight would provide the pay structure for non-teers.
they were raised, it's been 20 over 20 years. So we were for a long time we were the highest in the Mississippi conference at 250. Um other people have caught up to us. We have not raised ris um whole scaling there have been a few that we need to give in line with other things.
a customer asked um today about the drum line and why there was such an increase, but it's um taking the supplemental fee and adding it to the uh actual uh installation. That's pretty simple.
Um, I just wanted to make a quick statement. This isn't a character judgment on either of you. Um, I just believe in my heart that it's a conflict of interest and I have since I've ran through the board. So, I'm just going to continue to be consistent and vote no on that.
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
Designates the Superintendent as the district’s official with authority as required by MDE and PELRA.
Document outlining the pay structure for non-licensed staff serving as coaches and activity advisors for 2526 and 2627 school years.
Document detailing the fees for student participation in various activities for the 2026-2027 school year.
Resolution to approve the employment of board member Brandon Nelson as a substitute teacher and coach.
Resolution to approve the employment of board member Rob Shrock as a coach.
District handbook undergoing review and updates, including new provisions for e-bikes and scooters.
District document undergoing review and updates.
State-required plan being incorporated into district handbooks.
Goals for the 2025-2026 school year that will be used for the Superintendent's upcoming evaluation.
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
Superintendent's Administrative Report
Superintendent Evaluation Process
Employee Compensation Structures and Activities Fees
School Board Member Employment Resolutions
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