Faribault board approves modest increase in board pay after debate, 5–1 vote

The Faribault Public School District board voted 5–1 on Jan. 5 to raise monthly pay for board members to $325 and the chair to $400, following a contentious debate and an amendment that set the final amounts.

Director Linda Boudreau moved the amendment that produced the $325/$400 figures; Director Candice Knudson seconded. The amendment passed on a roll-call vote (Ayes: Linda Boudreau, Candice Knudson, Cassie Steeves, Chad Wolf and John Bellingham; No: Linda Moore). The board then adopted the main motion by the same 5–1 margin.

Director Linda Moore objected to increasing pay, citing a news article she said a taxpayer shared that argued “record school spending fails to reverse declining test scores,” and suggested symbolic pay reductions to press for accountability. Moore said she was “disappointed about the fastbridge [FastBridge] scores” and urged greater accountability for student achievement.

The chair presented comparative figures from a set of nearby districts (the "Big 9"), saying his review of five peer districts produced a rough average of about $323 per month for directors and roughly $401 per month for chairs; he noted larger districts such as Rochester were excluded from the average because their pay levels differ substantially. The chair said the district has budgeted for board compensation and pays conference expenses (mileage/lodging) separately.

Several directors described the stipend as a modest offset for personal expenses, such as laptops, phones and printing, that board members currently provide themselves. Board members also discussed whether to tie future increases to inflation or regular review against peer districts.

The clerk conducted the roll-call votes that produced the 5–1 outcomes; the board asked that the clerk record the action in the official minutes.