Board approves release notices for tiered/probationary staff and proposes unrequested leave for tenured Spanish teacher

The Byron Public Schools Board of Education voted March 3 to approve notices of nonrenewal for identified tier 1, tier 2 and probationary teaching contracts for the 2025'26 school year and to advance a separate proposal to place continuing-contract (tenured) Spanish teacher Jason Bovala on unrequested leave of absence.

At the meeting the board considered a resolution that staff said simply formalizes names already discussed; staff noted a sample notice would be prepared and delivered the next day. A board member moved to approve the resolution to issue termination and nonrenewal notices; the motion was seconded and the board recorded aye votes in roll call. The minutes show Jeremy, Gary, Nisa, Tom David, Kelly and Nadia recorded "Aye." No "No" votes were recorded on the motion as presented.

A separate resolution addressed the statutory process for a teacher with continuing contract status. Staff explained that under Minnesota Statute 122A.40, subdivision 10, a continuing-contract teacher who is proposed for unrequested leave would be given written notice, a specified date for a hearing and 14 days to request the hearing. The presenter said the proposed unrequested leave for Jason Bovala would be effective at the end of the 2024'25 school year, with the district providing notice and the teacher retaining statutory hearing rights. "That is proposed that Jason Bovala, continuing contract tenure teacher of said district be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or benefits at the end of the 24'25 school year, effective August 2025," the reading of the resolution stated.

Board members asked clarifying questions about recall rights and the process if sections reopen; staff said Bovala would be offered reopened sections without an interview during the two-year recall period. The presenter also noted that a recent resignation by one licensed school nurse removed the need to reduce that LSN position, which altered the previously circulated reductions list.

Next steps: the board directed staff to send the written notices as required and to set the proposed hearing date in the notification for the tenured teacher. If the teacher requests a hearing within the statutory window the board will schedule that proceeding; otherwise the district indicated it will proceed to finalize the leave placement at its next appropriate meeting.