Board hires new staff, accepts three resignations and votes to enter executive session on negotiations

At the May 4 meeting the Jamestown Public School Board moved and approved the hire of Jenna (Jennifer) Barson for the 2026'27 school year, contingent on a successful background check and appropriate licensure.

The board also accepted resignations effective at the end of the 2025'26 school year for Kimberly Carpenter, Elizabeth Wilkie and Sydney Larson. Jamie (board member) urged that exit-survey information be reviewed more deeply to understand why staff leave; Dr. Lek said the district uses an exit-survey and interview process to gather such information.

On an MOU question tied to one resignation, Dr. Lek clarified that a prorated payback associated with Sydney Larson's resident-teacher MOU would be deducted from the James River payment if applicable.

Later in the agenda a board member moved that the board enter executive session to develop negotiation strategies. The motion identified who would attend and cited the legal authority for the session as section 44-04-19.1 of the North Dakota Century Code; the board voted in favor and the executive session was recorded. The board stated it would return after the executive session to finish the meeting and adjourn.

Quote: "We do have our exit survey and exit interview process too. It gives us valuable insight," Dr. Lek said after the resignations were announced.

Ending: Motions to hire and accept resignations carried by voice/roll call votes; the board moved into a recorded executive session on negotiations under state statute and indicated it would resume only to adjourn following that session.