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Teachers and community speakers press St. Francis board to act on pay, retention and keep media centers
Summary
At the March 23 board meeting, multiple teachers, students and community members urged the board to address teacher pay and retention, warned of potential departures during bargaining, and asked the district not to close media centers that support reading outcomes.
Community members, teachers and students told the St. Francis Area Schools board on March 23 that teacher pay, working conditions and school library (media) services must be priorities if the district is to hold on to staff.
Multiple speakers delivered personal testimony during the public-comment period. Mike Star urged the district to "please do not shut down any media centers," saying the libraries contain books that can turn a child into a stronger reader. Teacher Ashley Jacoski Christensen, who said she has 11 years of experience, described using a second job to make ends meet and warned, "If things don't change, you will be losing me," saying she could earn about $10,000 more elsewhere.
Student leaders and union representatives added context. Junior class president Isabelle Bongard said teachers' pay has lagged inflation, citing that since 2015 inflation rose about 35% while the district's teacher pay rose roughly 9%, a gap she and others linked to turnover. Ann Carter, president of Education Minnesota St. Francis and a nearly 30-year teacher, told the board the average local teacher salary is about $71,000 while median family income and home prices in the community were cited as roughly $112,000 and $380,000 respectively — numbers she said make it difficult for teachers to stay in the community.
Why it matters: Board members were told teachers are weighing leaving in the face of ongoing negotiations and an upcoming mediation. Commenters asked the board to prioritize compensation, bargaining outcomes and investments that support instruction (including keeping media centers open) to avoid further turnover and its effect on student learning.
Board response and next steps: Board members listened and acknowledged the comments. Several speakers said mediation for teachers is scheduled this week; the public remarks were placed into the record and the board did not take immediate action on any specific compensation item at the meeting. The board and administration indicated they will continue bargaining and will discuss fund-balance and budget options during subsequent meetings.
Ending: The public-comment period ended after a series of personal testimonies; the board moved to other agenda items, including a separate, lengthy discussion of student-discipline data and a budget revision later in the meeting.
