Rochester Public Schools board holds closed sessions on labor negotiations and superintendent evaluation

The Rochester Public Schools Board of Education on Aug. 12 convened two closed sessions during its study session: one on labor negotiations and a later session to complete the superintendent—s annual evaluation.

At 8:28 p.m. the board chair moved and the motion was seconded to convene a closed session for labor negotiations pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 13D.05, subdivision 3(b). The board voted in favor by voice vote; minutes record the board moved into closed session at 8:29 p.m.

The board returned briefly to the study session at 8:07 p.m., where the clerk read a list of those present in the closed session, including board members and Superintendent Kent Pickell. Later, at 8:50 p.m., the board again went into closed session — this time for the superintendent's annual performance evaluation under the same statute. The board discussed the superintendent—s self‑evaluation and the compiled board results in closed session, with Superintendent Pickell joining the closed session later to receive the results. The clerk recorded that Pickell joined at 9:37 p.m.

After reconvening in open session at 9:58 p.m., board clerk Jean Marvin read the names of those present in the final closed session. The meeting adjourned at 9:59 p.m.

The motions to go into closed session were recorded as moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; the transcript does not list individual roll‑call vote tallies or the names of movers and seconders. The board cited Minnesota Statutes section 13D.05, subdivision 3(b) as the statutory authority for both closed sessions.