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Board approves stipend for Black Student Union adviser after lengthy debate over equity and precedent
Summary
The Red Wing Public School District board voted to create a paid stipend position for the Black Student Union (BSU) adviser, a decision that prompted debate about precedent, equity among student clubs and funding during a time of budget shortfalls.
The Red Wing Public School District board on March 24 approved creating a paid stipend position for the Black Student Union (BSU) adviser, drawing substantial discussion about equity for other student groups and concern about adding recurring costs amid a projected budget gap.
Administrators recommended the district designate the BSU adviser role as a stipend position for the current school year, with further contract details to be addressed in negotiations. One board member characterized the decision as a recognition of work comparable to other paid adviser roles such as student council and FFA advisers and said the district has precedent for paying advisers.
“I feel very strongly about paying this adviser,” one board member said, citing the student group’s contributions and community support. Another board member noted the district already pays many advisers and called the stipend a relatively small expense, citing a figure of about $2,800 in context of a roughly $45 million district budget.
However, other board members raised equity concerns: if the district pays the BSU adviser, how should it treat advisers for other student groups such as the Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Hispanic Student Union or Native American student organizations? Some members asked whether the district should pursue external funding or a broader policy for adviser stipends rather than treating the BSU as a single case.
Administrators said creating the paid position is an administrative action—if approved, the district would create the paid role and the administrative hiring or appointment process would follow. Board members asked about whether the position would be posted; district counsel/administration said that a paid position can be created and later filled consistent with personnel rules and negotiations.
After debate, the board voted to approve the BSU adviser stipend position. Several board members urged that the decision be coupled with a future, broader review in negotiations about adviser compensation for other student groups.
Why it matters: Student-group advisers provide supervision, mentorship and programming. The vote clarifies the district’s position on compensating advisers for extracurricular student support and surfaced tensions between equity goals and budget constraints.
Next steps: Administration will create the stipend position and follow the district’s hiring/assignment process; contract negotiations will be the venue to consider broader adviser-compensation policies.
