Board approves nonrenewal and unrequested leaves; procedural votes carried

At its March 6 meeting the Winona Area Public School District board took several formal actions recorded in the public minutes.

Nonrenewal of probationary teachers: The board adopted a resolution to nonrenew a list of probationary teachers effective at the end of the 2024–25 school year (contract termination effective 06/06/2025). The resolution cited Minnesota statutes and the district’s master agreement with the Winona Educational Association. The list read into the record included: Alexis Engel; Amira Shana; Angela Dennis; Mikaela Wolf; Sarah Wakeham; Mikaela DeForest; Laura Walker; Lisonbee Witt; Christine Coxley; Elizabeth Marovic; David Cano Sanchez; Susanna Montez Camara; Ladawn Covela; Jose Carreon; Jessica Jordan; and Courtney Lawler. The motion passed on roll call; board members who registered “yes” during the roll call were Carl Sonneman, Jack Hedeen, Martin Stickney, Michael Hanratty and Nancy Denzer; two board members were not present for the vote and were recorded as absent.

Placement on unrequested leave of absence: The board approved placing the following teachers on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits effective 06/06/2025 pursuant to Minnesota statutes and the local master agreement, on grounds of financial limitations, merger of classes or discontinuance of position: Gretchen Larson; Melody Henderson; Judith Johnson; Annie Bade; and Abigail Moody. The motion was seconded and passed on roll call with Sonneman, Hedeen, Stickney, Hanratty and Denzer recorded as voting yes; two board members were not present for the vote and recorded as absent.

Other procedural votes: The board approved minutes from the Feb. 20, 2025 meeting (voice vote: aye) and approved a motion to move into a closed session for the superintendent’s mid‑year performance evaluation pursuant to Minnesota statute (voice vote: aye). The meeting then moved to a closed session in another room as permitted by statute.