Board approves budgets, policies, superintendent contract and easement; service-coop decision moved to March

The Worthington Public School District Board approved a series of routine and substantive items at its February meeting, including budgets, policy readings, a superintendent contract and an easement adjustment tied to a watershed project.

Policy and reports: The board approved the second reading of Policy 2-13 (School Board Committees). The board approved the first reading of Policy 5-22, a nondiscrimination and grievance procedure policy the district is adopting to align with a model policy from the Minnesota School Boards Association after a federal court decision led to revisions. Board members clarified that the policy refers to Title IX requirements.

Budget and compliance reports: The board approved the 2025–26 NCIC budget for submission to the Minnesota Department of Education; the approved figure recorded in the meeting packet was $11,156,232. The board also approved the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (APAC) compliance report, a state-required annual item.

Superintendent contract: The board approved a three-year contract for Mr. Heitkamp as superintendent. The contract sets year-one salary at $180,000, year two at $185,000 and year three at $190,000; it includes a $7,500 district match to a 403(b), 25 vacation days, 11 holidays and 20 sick days. Board members described the contract negotiations as completed and recommended for approval.

Easement: The board approved an adjusted easement for the Coral Shine Pond watershed project, selecting alternative 3 from materials presented by the watershed group. Staff explained the alternative requires additional easement on the north end and some encroachment onto 80 acres previously purchased by the district; the district will complete paperwork to formalize the easement.

Service cooperative contract: The board moved discussion of the Southwest Service Cooperative contract to March. Staff noted districts must notify the cooperative by March 1 if they will not use certain services, and the full contract must be finalized by April 1. The district is interviewing candidates for several special-education roles and said hiring could reduce its reliance on cooperative services.

Votes at a glance: Policy 2-13 (second reading) — approved; Policy 5-22 (first reading) — approved; 2025–26 NCIC budget ($11,156,232) — approved; APAC compliance report — approved; new superintendent contract (three-year) — approved; adjusted easement for Coral Shine Pond alternative 3 — approved. Motions were recorded with movers and seconders where provided; full roll-call tallies are not consistently recorded in the transcript.