Business Meeting 03/19/2020
Alison has been writing “Need to Know” business meeting summaries since the fall of 2018. These summaries include bookmarks and links to documentation to help all residents stay more easily informed and form their own opinions.
Motion to Amend the Agenda – The meeting began with Director Pelletier requesting to amend the agenda to remove the item placing “Employee A” (widely speculated to be the district’s Finance and Operations Director) on paid administrative leave. She cited two reasons: 1) timing concerns given the current health pandemic, and 2) a concern that the board is violating MN Statute 13D.05. This is an interesting exchange to watch. Both Director Burns and Pelletier shared they sent their concerns to Board Chair Stivland via email in advance of the meeting and Chair Stivland denies receiving those emails. Director Stivland gets quite upset, even gaveling Director Pelletier several times during the exchange. The motion to remove the action item failed by a vote of 4-3. Directors Sarah Stivland, Mike Ptacek, Liz Weisberg and Tina Riehle voted against the motion to remove the action item. Directors Jennifer Pelletier, Mark Burns and Shelley Pearson supported the amendment being removed. If you watch the vote it initially looks like Director Ptacek supports the motion to amend but then lowers his hand. https://youtu.be/ZXxtVqg60BE?t=97
Update Concerning Covid-19 Response –There are three main priorities currently: emergency food and childcare services as well as planning around distance learning. Information is changing minute by minute, so the most current information is available on the district’s website.
Superintendent Pontrelli’s Update: https://youtu.be/ZXxtVqg60BE?t=1296
Board Q&A: https://youtu.be/ZXxtVqg60BE?t=1716
Link to District COVID-19 Info: https://stillwaterschools.org/district/district-news-e-news/covid-19-planning-stillwater-schools
COVID-19 Technology Purchases – The motion to allocate $200k to make technology equipment purchases passed 7-0. https://youtu.be/ZXxtVqg60BE?t=3323
Emergency COVID-19 Release of Funds – These funds, not to exceed $250k, are needed so the administration has flexibility in responding to needs that come from the district’s COVID-19 response efforts. After much discussion, the board passed this resolution 7-0. After watching the entire meeting I couldn’t help but notice the scrutiny in this funding versus the later action item of the bus terminal audit, which was passed by the board with essentially a blank check. https://youtu.be/ZXxtVqg60BE?t=4180
Bus Terminal Audit – Board Chair Stivland introduced an action item to hire an audit firm to review the district’s bus terminal project (prurchased in 2018). The board ultimately approved the hiring of Pamela Harris at the recommendation of the district’s attorney. However, the district’s law firm, Kennedy & Graven, will be a subject as part of this investigation. Also, the district’s attorney Maggie Wallner had a professional relationship in the past with Pamela Harris. Director Burns expressed concern over that relationship and the potential for an appearance of a conflict of interest. A question I have is why would our Board of Education push so hard to hire Pamela Harris, a former colleague of the district’s current attorney Maggie Wallner, who has the appearance of a conflict of interest and also did not share an hourly rate for her services? How much will this audit cost taxpayers?
Director Pelletier supported an audit but made an amendment to hire Michelle Soldo at a billable rate of $155 per hour, with seemingly no appearance of a conflict of interest. That amendment failed 4-3. Directors Pelletier, Burns and Pearson supported the amendment. Directors Stivland, Ptacek, Weisberg and Riehle voted against the amendment. https://youtu.be/ZXxtVqg60BE?t=7958
After this amendment failed the motion to hire Pamela Harris was voted on by the board. The motion passed 5-2. Directors Stivland, Ptacek, Pearson, Weisberg and Riehle all voted in support of retaining Pamela Harris, with no billable rate known and the appearance of a conflict of interest. I’ve never seen anything like this. Taxpayer dollars are funding this audit. We should be demanding answers from the five directors who supported for this action. Directors Pelletier and Burns did not support the motion.
Why the district’s current law firm, Kennedy and Graven, will be a part of an audit investigation: This was news to me. The district’s attorney, Kennedy & Graven, was also representing the City of Lake Elmo. Chair Stivland insisted this is normal, but really? I’m not a lawyers but that seems highly unusual. https://youtu.be/ZXxtVqg60BE?t=5291
Entire Board Conversation Concerning Bus Terminal Audit: https://youtu.be/ZXxtVqg60BE?t=5967
Motion to Place “Employee A” on Paid Administrative Leave Effective March 20th – It is widely speculated that the employee identified is the district’s Director of Finance and Operations. The superintendent made a statement expressing grave concern that she cannot imagine how the district will manage its COVID-19 response efforts without this full-time position. A full-time interim replacement will be needed according to the superintendent. Not having this position will limit the district’s ability to function for students. Director of Human Resources, Cathy Moen, is trying to find a replacement but has not been successful due to people wanting to stay home with their families during COVID-19. It was discussed that during paid administrative leave, “Employee A” could be asked to help in times of need although not physically present. I’m unsure how this would happen because paid leave typically means you are not allowed in buildings or on the district’s network. What work can “Employee A” do? It’s interesting because Chair Stivland says repeatedly there is no complaint against “Employee A.” When asked by Director Pelletier and Director Burns why this is being done at this critical time when there is no complaint, Chair Stivland refused to answer. However, Director Weisberg tied this action against “Employee A” to the bus terminal and the investigation multiple times during the conversation. Personally, I’m confused. I’m not only worried about how this action will impact staff and students, but I am concerned the district is now susceptible to litigation from “Employee A” given the connection established to the bus terminal audit. There is a lack of transparency with the public and no information has been provided in terms of the costs that will be incurred as a result of this approved action. These unknown costs will be incurred during this unprecedented COVID-19 emergency.
Full Board Discussion:
District Materials –
The District’s Meeting Summary: https://stillwaterschools.org/sites/default/files/public/downloads/pages/notes_3.19.20.pdf
Full Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXxtVqg60BE&feature=youtu.be
Meeting Materials:
https://stillwaterschools.org/sites/default/files/public/downloads/pages/investigator_materials.pdf