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Superintendent stresses county reunification drill, warns of legislative costs to district budgets
Summary
Superintendent Grant told the board that county law enforcement is planning a reunification drill to refresh catastrophic-event procedures and warned that proposed state changes to family leave and unemployment rules could create substantial new costs for the district.
Superintendent Grant reported on a countywide reunification planning meeting hosted by local law enforcement agencies and warned the board about two state-level proposals that could materially affect district finances.
Grant said Brainerd Police, Baxter, Crosby, Neswah and Crow Wing County law enforcement convened a reunification meeting to reexamine procedures for catastrophic events and to align plans across districts and municipalities. He said the last large-scale drill was six or seven years ago and that local building changes and personnel turnover make an updated drill timely. Grant said law enforcement plans to schedule a drill, likely in summer, and that the district will be asked to provide student and staff volunteers for exercises.
On state policy issues, Grant and board members summarized concerns raised at a local Chamber “Eggs and Issues” event with area legislators. Board members discussed the proposed extension of paid family leave (which one speaker said would allow 12–20 weeks paid leave) and the district’s exposure under a change that allows some part-time workers to file unemployment insurance: business services reported a $400,000 cost estimate tied to an unemployment rule change last year and said the legislature may need to appropriate funds or districts could be left to cover the cost.
Board members expressed concern about substitute availability and continuity of instruction if extended leave policies become widely used. Grant said legislators are aware of small-business and school-district concerns and that the district will watch developments.
No formal board action was recorded; Grant said the county and district will continue planning the reunification exercise and that legislative items will continue to be monitored during budget revision work.
