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Grand Forks school board opens discussion on member pay; policy review committee to draft options
Summary
Board members debated whether to raise school board compensation, with varied views on purpose, timing and comparisons to other districts; no policy change was made and the issue will return to the policy review committee for drafting.
The Grand Forks School Board discussed possible changes to board member compensation but took no vote, directing the policy review committee to draft options for future consideration.
Doctor Brenner framed the item as a follow-up to a previous meeting where a compensation policy was pulled for more discussion. Board members shared a range of views: some said modest increases would help attract a more diverse pool of candidates and offset family-care costs, while others emphasized that service is public and questioned the need for pay changes.
Board member Ms. Lynn suggested a $1,500 to $2,000 increase for members, with higher amounts for vice president and president. “It would be fair to see, like, a $1,500 or $2,000 increase for board members,” Lynn said. Board member Mr. Larson said acting sooner could help attract candidates in the next election cycle. Dr. Hodeck pointed to wider debates nationwide and noted large variations across districts, including a cited example where Los Angeles sets compensation substantially higher than smaller districts.
Several board members — including Dr. Lund, who sits on the policy review committee — emphasized the comparisons across districts are imperfect and recommended the committee return proposed language and specifics for full-board consideration. “I just want to remind the board that this isn't your last shot at this,” Lund said; the policy review committee will return a proposal for board discussion and approval.
No formal motion or vote was taken. The policy review committee will consider suggested amounts, frequency, and whether increases should align with other district negotiation cycles, and bring a recommendation back to the full board.
