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Fargo Board opens contract negotiations with superintendent, names ad hoc committee
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Summary
The Fargo Board of Education voted unanimously to open contract negotiations with Superintendent Dr. Steiner after he requested a freeze of his second-year salary; the board appointed an ad hoc review committee and set a May 12 deadline for a proposed new contract.
At a meeting that began at 5:30 p.m., the Fargo Board of Education voted unanimously to open contract negotiations with Superintendent Dr. Steiner and appointed an ad hoc committee to review his contract.
The action stemmed from a request by Dr. Steiner to freeze his second-year salary. Paul Moore, a North Fargo resident who spoke during public comment, praised the superintendent’s request: "I wanted to commend doctor Steiner on putting a little skin in the game, by requesting a hold on his second year of his contract," Moore said, adding that the move "signals good faith leadership and an awareness of the financial pressures facing the district and the community." The board did not debate the comment on the record.
Robin moved the formal motion to open negotiations and to form an ad hoc committee "of Jason Nelson, Greg Clark, and Katie Christianson Moneer with Katie Christianson Moneer serving as chair to be with Dr. Steiner to review the superintendent contract and propose a new contract no later than the May 12 board meeting," and Nikki seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 9-0.
Board President Laura Haugen Christensen and Superintendent Dr. Steiner also provided routine reports during the meeting. Dr. Steiner said the district’s "Portrait of a Graduate" work is nearing a final set of competencies after surveys that have yielded 385 staff and 829 student responses; he listed upcoming budget presentation dates and partnership updates. The board scheduled budget meetings for March 26, April 1 and April 7 and confirmed its next regular meeting on April 14.
The board approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting by unanimous vote. The motion to open negotiations (memo 91) directs the ad hoc committee to meet with Dr. Steiner, review contract terms (including the salary freeze request and a separately suggested one-year contract extension), and report back with a proposed contract by the May 12 board meeting.
No formal changes to the contract were adopted at this meeting; the vote authorized negotiations and the committee described above. The meeting adjourned at 5:52 p.m.
