Board approves retirement contribution change, nine certified positions and other personnel items

The Dickinson School Board took several personnel and benefits actions during its Jan. 13 meeting. The motions below summarize the items voted on and the outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript.

1) ND PERS classified-employee contribution change and updated classified salaries and benefits — Approved Mister Sinks moved to "revise the district's ND PERS contributions for classified employees employed after January 1, 2025 to 6.25%. Said contribution will include 5.25% of the amount mandated by state statute and 1% of the employee's mandatory 4% contribution. The employee will be responsible for the remaining 3% of the employee's mandatory 4% contribution. Furthermore, I move to approve the updated 2024 2025 classified salaries and benefits package as presented." The motion was seconded (transcript: second by missus Shoritz). The board voted by voice: "All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say aye. Motion carries." The item was recorded as approved; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.

2) Approval to hire up to nine additional certified positions for 2025–26 — Approved (roll-call) Missus Shorten moved to approve hiring an additional nine certified positions as necessary for the 2025–26 school year; the motion was seconded by Mister Wilke. The motion was decided by roll call. The recorded responses in sequence (as read during roll call) were: "Mister Werickowski: Aye. Mister Sinks: Aye. Mister Wilkie: Aye. Missus Schwartz: Aye. Interval: Aye." The transcript reports the motion carries.

3) Early resignation benefits for listed employees — Approved Missus Schwartz moved to approve early resignation benefits for a group of staff members (names and effective dates as read into the record). The motion was seconded (second by Mister Wilkie) and approved by voice vote: "All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. And motion carries." (Names and effective dates were read on the record; text in the minutes reflects those names as presented.)

4) Hire one elementary principal position for remainder of 2024–25 or start of 2025–26 — Approved (roll-call) Missus Schwartz moved to approve hiring one elementary principal position as necessary for the remainder of 2024–25 and/or to start 2025–26. The motion was seconded (second by Mister Seats) and decided by roll call. The transcript records affirmative votes: "Mister Seeks: Aye. Mister Orlikowski: Aye. Mister Schwartz: Aye. Mister Wilkie: Aye. The chair votes aye." The motion carries.

5) Open enrollment application for two children of Deanna Britt (from New England Public) — Approved Mister Schwartz moved to approve the open enrollment application for two children of Deanna Britt from New England Public under open enrollment policy; motion was seconded and approved by voice vote: "All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Who's opposed to aye? Motion carries."

Other routine items approved earlier in the meeting (consent agenda and approval of the meeting agenda) were approved by voice vote at the start of the meeting.

The board's recorded motions and roll-call excerpts above are taken from the meeting transcript. The meeting did not include ordinance- or statute-level actions; these were personnel, hiring and benefit decisions recorded in the board minutes.