Faribault board keeps RISE mentor hire after debate over program transparency and DEI

The Faribault Public School District School Board on July 21 approved a recommendation to hire staff that included a RISE (Realizing Individual Student Excellence) mentor after the board rejected an amendment to remove that position.

The amendment, moved by Director Linda Moore to pull the RISE mentor from the employment approvals, failed on a 1–5 roll call. Moore was the lone vote in favor of the amendment; Directors Linda Boudreau, Candice Knudson, Cassie Steeves, Chad Wolf and Chair John Bellingham voted no. The underlying employment recommendation then passed by voice vote, recorded as 5–1.

Board members spent more than 45 minutes discussing the RISE position, focused on program eligibility, funding sources and outcomes. Director Moore said she was concerned the program’s partnerships and outreach could effectively prioritize some groups over others and suggested removing the hire while the board investigates potential legal and funding risks. Moore said she had reviewed a federal audit and public materials and flagged a claim that roughly $6 million in federal funding was at risk; she described earlier press reports suggesting some funds had already been pulled. Moore framed her amendment around transparency and civil-rights compliance.

Superintendent Venti and district staff answered questions about the RISE program’s structure, funding and measurable results. “We have 9 RISE…