Monticello board approves handbooks, policy updates, coordinator contract and accepts donations

The Monticello Public School District board on Aug. 18 unanimously approved a series of administrative items, including a revised high school handbook, multiple policy updates, acceptance of donations and a tentative two-year contract for seven special-education coordinators.

Director of Human Resources Rob Daneker outlined the handbook edits tied to the high school’s transition to trimesters and noted an updated state requirement from the Minnesota Department of Education that the MCA opt-out information be included in student handbooks. "We just take it straight from the MDE website," Daneker said, and the board voted to adopt the handbook revisions, 6-0.

Daneker also presented a tentative agreement with seven special-education coordinators dated July 22. Key terms described in the presentation include adding a new step to the coordinators’ salary schedule (positioned between existing steps), aggregate salary increases of about 3.45% in year one and 3.43% in year two, an October 1, one-time stipend of $2,500 for each coordinator to assist with an insurance-model change, and adjusted monthly district contributions toward group and dental insurance (transcript lists year-1 family contribution as $2,530 and single as $1,015, rising in year 2 to $2,606/$1,045 and dental from $122 to $126). Daneker said the district previously covered 100% of premiums and that the new model includes an added $500 base amount in year one for expenses not covered by insurance.

Daneker described several language cleanups and procedural adjustments in the contract — including added duty days (from 220 to 225) and two holidays (New Year’s Eve day and Juneteenth) — and said the total two-year package value amounts to "9.62 MSBA" as presented. Board member Mary Bartel moved to approve the tentative agreement; Jeff Hegley seconded and the motion passed, 6-0.

On policy, Daneker walked the board through second readings of multiple policy updates (policy numbers cited in the presentation included 06/14, 06/15, 07/2007, 07/2008, 07/22 and 8/02). Changes ranged from aligning testing procedures and accommodations with state law, to adding a responsible authority and updated form for public data requests, to clarifying disposal procedures for obsolete equipment. "By establishing a responsible authority, we funnel those requests to the right individual," Daneker said. The board approved the policy updates by voice vote, 6-0.

Superintendent Eric Olsen presented community donations for acceptance, including $3,000 from the Tom Keaton Foundation for academic support at Monticello High School for 2025–26 and a class gift from the Monte class of 1985 for the district’s 'Magic Closet' program. (The transcript records inconsistent figures for the class gift in two places; one on-record comment described the amount as $2,623 while the read motion later cited $2,608.) The board accepted the donations, 6-0.

The meeting concluded with announcements and adjournment at 6:38 p.m.