Votes at a glance: Brainerd Public Schools board approves tenures, unrequested leaves, preliminary budget and several routine items; operating-levy motion fails

The Brainerd Public Schools Board of Education approved a package of routine and personnel actions at its June 9 meeting, including granting tenure to a group of certified staff, placing several teachers on unrequested leave of absence, and adopting a preliminary 2025-26 budget. Trustees also approved contracts, handbooks and program renewals listed below. Separately, after extensive public comment, the board voted down a motion to authorize preparations for an operating-levy referendum (see separate article).

What the board approved - Tenure for certified staff: The board granted tenure to 13 certificated employees named in the agenda. The board approved the list by motion and voice vote. - Unrequested leave of absence (ULA): The board adopted a resolution placing five teachers on unrequested leave of absence effective 06/30/2025, citing discontinuance of positions, lack of pupils and financial limitations. The action was adopted by roll-call vote, with the district clerk reading statutory language and finding no timely hearing requests from the affected staff. - Preliminary 2025-26 budget: The board approved the district's preliminary budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The administration presented the budget assumptions (including a projected ADM of about 5,007.51 and an estimated unassigned fund deficit) and trustees voted to adopt the preliminary numbers; the board will still revise the budget once final state aid and negotiated-contract figures are known. - Contracts and renewals: Trustees approved routine business items that had been on the consent calendar (with two school-resource-officer contracts pulled for separate consideration and later approved), renewal of liability/workers-comp insurance, membership renewals (Minnesota State High School League and Minnesota School Boards Association), and the district's adoption of standard handbooks and a revised policy on school-sponsored student publications. - Teacher development and compensation program (ACOMP/TD&E): The board approved continued participation in the state ACOMP/TD&E teacher development and compensation program, which funds peer coaching, PLC leadership and career-ladder stipends.

Formal actions (selected) - Grant tenure to listed certified staff (motion carried, voice vote). Grantees included Blake Allholm, Barbara Bingham, Ann Campion, Jill Anglin, Nathan Herfindahl, Claudia Keller, Patrick McGuire, Emma Peterson, Tracy Potvin, Travis Schlanger, Amanda Sween, Hannah True and Leah Wheeler. - Adopt resolution placing Garth Asgaard (spelling in transcript varies), Allison Bullard, Nedra Henlin, Claire Horn and Bobby Crutchin on unrequested leave of absence,…