TRF School District approves staff cuts

by David Hill Editor Budget cuts in School District 564, Thief River Falls, resulted in the following layoffs, effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year: • The termination and non-renewal of the teaching contract of Carrie Anderson, a probationary teacher. • The termination and non-renewal of the teaching contract of Madyson Carlson, a probationary teacher. • The termination and non-renewal of the teaching contract of Kelly Melin, a probationary teacher. • The termination and non-renewal of the teaching contract of Kristine Dickson, a probationary teacher. • The termination and non-renewal of the teaching contract of Maria Carlson, a probationary teacher. • The termination and non-renewal of the teaching contract of Brayden Johnson, a probationary teacher. • The termination and non-renewal of the teaching contract of Angela Hoglo, a probationary teacher. • To place Sarah Vogel, a continuing contract/tenured teacher, on unrequested leave of absence. • To place Carolyn Larson, a continuing contract/tenured teacher on unrequested leave of absence. • To place Shawna Spears, a continuing contract/tenured teacher, on unrequested leave of absence. These individuals aren’t just names on an agenda. Speaking during the public comment period, Danielle Schantz, a second grade teacher, said she wanted to make their terminations personal, and to have the whole community feel this. Schantz said she had been a mentor to three of the individuals on the list, and that during this mentorship they became teammates and friends. She said she learned just as much from them and became a better teacher because of them. All of the individuals on this list are colleagues and teammates, she said. It has been a hard few weeks for all involved. There have been many tears shed and frustrations expressed. She added that she has high hopes that the district can keep some of these teachers when and if openings occur. She said that makes her happy for them and happy for the kids. But she said, selfishly that makes her very sad because they probably won’t be in their same roles, and she won’t be able to teach with them. She said she knows the Board did not take these decisions lightly. “I just want everyone to understand these are great teachers and great people.” She encouraged everyone to get out and vote next year. To these people this is not just a job, but a purpose. Not everyone can be a teacher. The answer, she said, is not just cutting salaries, programs and teachers. The answer needs to be supporting our teachers, schools and, most importantly, the children. Ten staff were cut, effective at the end of the school year. Superintendent Chris Mills said tenured teachers will have the right to request a hearing. This is proposing the placement (on unrequested leave of absence). The placement won’t happen until the first meeting in March. Mills said they continue to fight misinformation when working through the budgets and staffing. He said the District has tried to be very clear, but he continues to hear comments based on misinformation. He encouraged anyone with questions to call him, come in and talk to the administration so they have the correct information. “We want you to have the right information. You can have an opinion, and we respect that, but we want you to have the right information.” Mills said he will continue to follow up with outreach to organizations within the community. Mike Spears, a member of the Board of Education thanked Schantz for sharing her comments. He said these teachers are our friends, neighbors and family. “We do not take this lightly, but we have a budget we have to stay within.” John Syvertson, a member of the Board of Education, said, “The hard part when we have great staff, is when we have to cut staff, we cut great people.” I don’t want to do this again, said Chairman Ryan Walseth, who noted he has lost a lot of sleep because of these decisions and doesn’t want to go through this again.