Teacher granted one-year leave to join West Central Education District transition program

The Paynesville Public School District placed a one-year general leave of absence for teacher Jasmine Walters on the consent agenda so she can take a position in transition programming run through the West Central Education District.

Board member Cheryl, who reviewed consent items, described the leave as “unique” and said Walters had applied for the West Central post. Cheryl told trustees she expects Walters to maintain and carry the program forward and that, if the program does not continue beyond next year, Walters would return to her teaching position in Paynesville.

Cheryl said the district has several students who will participate in the transition program in the U Zone and that access to West Central’s programming avoids the need for the district to create comparable services at additional cost. “We really need that program for our students that need that level of service,” Cheryl said, “and if we didn't have access to that programming through the West Central Education District we would have to create that programming here for additional cost within our district.”

The leave was listed as a consent-agenda item and will be administered in coordination with human resources; the superintendent and administrative staff discussed posting and coverage if the leave is approved. The consent agenda also included other personnel hires and resignations noted for the record.