ROCORI board approves nonrenewal of probationary teachers after closed session; parents urge reversal for Trevor Sawyer

The ROCORI Public School District school board voted to approve resolutions to nonrenew probationary teachers following a closed-session discussion permitted under state statute. The board first voted to nonrenew one probationary teacher before moving into closed session and later approved a resolution listing five probationary teachers for nonrenewal.

The nonrenewal actions were discussed in closed session under Minnesota Statutes section 122A.40, which the board cited as authority to close the meeting to discuss nonrenewal of a teacher's contract during a probationary period. After returning to open session the board presented and voted on a resolution to nonrenew five probationary teachers: Lehi James, Paige Griggs, Ashley Chaos, Trevor Sawyer and Aaron Tallagury. The board recorded the vote as passing by voice vote.

Community members, students and district staff addressed the board during the public-comment period before and after the votes, urging reconsideration of the decision in Sawyer's case. Lucas Jacobs, a fifth-grade student, told the board Sawyer “is a hardworking, respectful hero helping our minds,” and said students would lose “the happiness and talent he gives us every day.” Belinda Walsh, identified as district staff and a member of Sawyer’s fifth-grade team, told the board the team “cannot make sense of the rationale behind this decision” and described Sawyer as a collaborative teacher who “teaches our district curriculum with fidelity” and builds strong relationships with students. A paraprofessional identified as Julia said Sawyer “showed initiative and flexibility” and asked the board to “please reconsider this action and keep Mister Sawyer where he belongs.”

Ryan Kane, who identified himself as a district resident and a teacher with 21 years’ experience, said the district faces a national teacher shortage and called Sawyer “a fantastic educator” whose nonrenewal would increase strain on crowded classrooms. Parent speakers Cecilia Flores and Yaha Lopez described children who come home happy about Sawyer’s class and emphasized his role supporting students and Spanish-speaking families.

Board members framed the nonrenewal votes as procedural steps for probationary staff; the board cited a need to follow the statutory process and said the board would summarize closed-session conclusions at the next open meeting. The motions were moved and seconded in open session (initially a motion to nonrenew Connor Shoreboard was moved by Matt and seconded by Kayla), and the board voted to approve the subsequent resolution nonrenewing the five probationary teachers (motion by Jenna; second by Matt). The board announced the resolution “passes” by roll call/voice vote.

The board did not publish further details about the personnel discussions in open session. Board members said they would provide a summary of the closed-session conclusions at the next open meeting, as allowed under the cited statute.