Winona Area school board approves personnel contract, accepts donations and advances policies; DEI committee charter trimmed

The Winona Area Public School District school board on an August meeting approved a three-year contract for office professionals, accepted more than $71,000 in donations, adopted an updated personnel policy to conform with 2024 legislative changes and discussed revisions to its DEI committee charter and fall operational plans.

Board members said the personnel contract was negotiated by the district and the union and that the agreement’s three-year cost to the district is slightly more than $454,000. Director Slavi, who served on the negotiating team, described the process as “a wonderful process and a fair agreement.” The board voted to approve the contract by voice vote; the motion carried.

The board also unanimously approved a consent agenda that included minutes and routine fiscal and human-resources items, and it accepted a package of donations totaling $71,057.46. Director Sandeman moved the donation resolution; the roll call on that motion recorded yes votes from Monica Siegfried, Michael Henreddy, Martin Stickney, Carl Sonneman, Jack Hadean and Nancy Denzer.

Why it matters: the contract affects salary and classification structure for a sizable employee group and has a measurable, though small, effect on the general fund budget; the DEI charter discussion could change the composition and function of a long-running advisory committee; enrollment and class-size projections inform staffing and bus routing for the coming school year.

Most important facts

- Office professionals contract: the board approved a three-year contract the district estimates will cost just over $454,000 over the contract term; the district said the year‑one impact to the general fund is about 0.09% above budgeted amounts. The board approved the…