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On February 7, YME High School Principal Karen Norell presented Superintendent Al Stoeckman with a letter stating, “I will retire effective at the close of the school year 2011-2012.”
Norell has been employed as the high school principal for the past twelve years. While Stoeckman indicated that he wasn’t expecting the letter on the day she handed it to him, he did indicate that there have been ongoing negotiations for almost a year concerning a retirement package.
Last November, Norell and Bert Raney Elementary Principal Jodi Kennedy appeared before the board as a Principal’s Bargaining Unit to discuss the Principal’s Contract. At the time, negotiations had stalled over retirement language for Norell. Norell read a statement to the board that stated, “In an effort to clarify the Principal Contract I would like to submit to you that the Principal’s Bargaining Unit is negotiating a contract. I am requesting a “retirement option” which is a letter of understanding between the school district and me. These are separate agreements.”
Norell had met in May with members of the District’s negotiation team and advised them, “I need to work through school year 2012 …this offers me $200 a month in additional TRA benefits (for the rest of my life); I need insurance; I requested “severance” for the 2013 benefits I would lose. If I work through 2013 the TRA benefits increase by $100 a month (for the rest of my life).”
While the Principal’s Contract is yet to be settled, a retirement option as an addendum that specified the components of the agreement of the retirement was accepted.
Under the agreement, Norell will receive a monthly contribution towards insurance and a one-time cash payment. She will remain eligible for the insurance benefits until the earlier of becoming eligible for insurance benefits with another employer, becoming eligible for Medicare, or reaching a maximum of $56,000 in premiums by the District. The insurance premiums will be paid only for policies available under the District’s pool. She will also be provided with a one-time payment of $12,000 to offset the TRA benefits.
Another provision in the agreement stated that Norell would tender her letter of retirement effective the end of the current school year 2011-2012.
In her letter of retirement, she commented that education was her ticket from poverty; teachers were her mentors and her parents embraced education resulting in eight college graduates. She wrote, “Four of us chose education. It has been a great ride. I feel privileged to have helped students pursue their dreams and avocations and I count as friends many students, teachers, staff members, and families.” She pointed out that she enjoyed bonds with community organizations like the Veteran’s Service Groups and Human Services and that together they have helped kids.
She stated that she was thankful for the opportunity to have served the Yellow Medicine East School District and ended her letter with a request: “Please continue to offer “state of the art” learning opportunities for each and every YME student.
As Stoeckman presented the letter to the board at Monday night’s meeting he noted that districts benefit from long term administrators. “Karen has served our district for 12 years. I want to thank her for her service to the YME District.”
There was no discussion by board members prior to accepting Norell’s retirement letter. When contacted on Tuesday morning, Karen Norell had no comment on her decision to retire and the timing of her retirement letter.
Action items
The board approved the bills for payment and passed a resolution directing the administration to make recommendations for reductions. The resolution passed with only board member Steve Zumhofe in opposition to the resolution. Before the vote, Zumhofe wanted to make several points concerning the possibility of finding alternatives to reducing the budget by $400,000 dollars due to declining enrollment. “It’s worth looking into,” shared Zumhofe. He asked what the district is doing to turn around the loss of YME students through open enrollment. Stoeckman indicated that over the last two years the net loss of students has gone down from 291 to 230. “If we can get 10 students to stay, that would bring in $100,000.” Stoeckman agreed that turning the open enrollment would bring in additional funds. He shared some of the efforts that the district has been doing to let people know about the programs available at YME, but said that he was not comfortable going into neighboring districts to recruit students. Zumhofe asked if the district has considered sending letters to families, living within the district, who have children open enrolled in other districts.
Lawsuit
conference call
Stoeckman informed the board that there will be a conference call for all parties involved in the lawsuit on Thursday. At that time, a timeline for the remedy phase will be set.
The remedy phase will include the district providing a stipulation of facts that the plaintiffs will have time to respond to and finally a judge’s order will be made.
On February 7, YME High School Principal Karen Norell presented Superintendent Al Stoeckman with a letter stating, “I will retire effective at the close of the school year 2011-2012.”
Norell has been employed as the high school principal for the past twelve years. While Stoeckman indicated that he wasn’t expecting the letter on the day she handed it to him, he did indicate that there have been ongoing negotiations for almost a year concerning a retirement package.
Last November, Norell and Bert Raney Elementary Principal Jodi Kennedy appeared before the board as a Principal’s Bargaining Unit to discuss the Principal’s Contract. At the time, negotiations had stalled over retirement language for Norell. Norell read a statement to the board that stated, “In an effort to clarify the Principal Contract I would like to submit to you that the Principal’s Bargaining Unit is negotiating a contract. I am requesting a “retirement option” which is a letter of understanding between the school district and me. These are separate agreements.”
Norell had met in May with members of the District’s negotiation team and advised them, “I need to work through school year 2012 …this offers me $200 a month in additional TRA benefits (for the rest of my life); I need insurance; I requested “severance” for the 2013 benefits I would lose. If I work through 2013 the TRA benefits increase by $100 a month (for the rest of my life).”
While the Principal’s Contract is yet to be settled, a retirement option as an addendum that specified the components of the agreement of the retirement was accepted.
Under the agreement, Norell will receive a monthly contribution towards insurance and a one-time cash payment. She will remain eligible for the insurance benefits until the earlier of becoming eligible for insurance benefits with another employer, becoming eligible for Medicare, or reaching a maximum of $56,000 in premiums by the District. The insurance premiums will be paid only for policies available under the District’s pool. She will also be provided with a one-time payment of $12,000 to offset the TRA benefits.
Another provision in the agreement stated that Norell would tender her letter of retirement effective the end of the current school year 2011-2012.
In her letter of retirement, she commented that education was her ticket from poverty; teachers were her mentors and her parents embraced education resulting in eight college graduates. She wrote, “Four of us chose education. It has been a great ride. I feel privileged to have helped students pursue their dreams and avocations and I count as friends many students, teachers, staff members, and families.” She pointed out that she enjoyed bonds with community organizations like the Veteran’s Service Groups and Human Services and that together they have helped kids.
She stated that she was thankful for the opportunity to have served the Yellow Medicine East School District and ended her letter with a request: “Please continue to offer “state of the art” learning opportunities for each and every YME student.
As Stoeckman presented the letter to the board at Monday night’s meeting he noted that districts benefit from long term administrators. “Karen has served our district for 12 years. I want to thank her for her service to the YME District.”
There was no discussion by board members prior to accepting Norell’s retirement letter. When contacted on Tuesday morning, Karen Norell had no comment on her decision to retire and the timing of her retirement letter.
Action items
The board approved the bills for payment and passed a resolution directing the administration to make recommendations for reductions. The resolution passed with only board member Steve Zumhofe in opposition to the resolution. Before the vote, Zumhofe wanted to make several points concerning the possibility of finding alternatives to reducing the budget by $400,000 dollars due to declining enrollment. “It’s worth looking into,” shared Zumhofe. He asked what the district is doing to turn around the loss of YME students through open enrollment. Stoeckman indicated that over the last two years the net loss of students has gone down from 291 to 230. “If we can get 10 students to stay, that would bring in $100,000.” Stoeckman agreed that turning the open enrollment would bring in additional funds. He shared some of the efforts that the district has been doing to let people know about the programs available at YME, but said that he was not comfortable going into neighboring districts to recruit students. Zumhofe asked if the district has considered sending letters to families, living within the district, who have children open enrolled in other districts.
Lawsuit
conference call
Stoeckman informed the board that there will be a conference call for all parties involved in the lawsuit on Thursday. At that time, a timeline for the remedy phase will be set.
The remedy phase will include the district providing a stipulation of facts that the plaintiffs will have time to respond to and finally a judge’s order will be made.
No Child Left Behind
The board was informed that due to the waiver of the No Child Left Behind law, YME will be participating in a Minnesota designed academic accountability system. Stoeckman will participate in a state wide webinar with all superintendents and the State Department of Education on Wednesday morning at 9:30 to get more details on the new system.
Student
board member
A discussion was held on the possibility of including a student representative as a non-voting member of the school board. The consensus of the board was to have Steve Zumhofe pursue the idea by presenting the opportunity to the student council and other organizations in the school to see if the students are interested in having a representative on the board.
Personnel items
• The board approved a contract for Junior High Basketball coach Al Reszel.
• The board approved the retirement of Karen Norell and Kathy Velde effective the end of the current school year.
• The board approved additional paraprofessional time for Randy Haakenson for the remainder of the year for additional special education duties.
• The board approved a contract with Robin Bendel to fill the Senior Advocate recently position vacated by Heather Velde.
Upcoming events
• There will be no classes for students on Friday, February 17 and Monday, February 20.
• The next school board meeting will be held on March 12 at 5:30 p.m.
• A school board work session with stakeholders is scheduled for March 26 at 4:30 p.m.
