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Staples-Motley board approves retirement, hire and a slate of non‑renewals
Summary
At its Feb. 2 meeting the Staples‑Motley School District board accepted a teacher retirement, approved the hire of an elementary social worker and voted unanimously on a series of non‑renewals and two out‑of‑field/ULA approvals; all motions carried.
The Staples‑Motley School District board accepted the retirement of MS/HS teacher Sandy Opheim and approved the hire of Madelyn Ziegler as an elementary social worker, then moved through a series of personnel motions and unanimous roll-call votes at a brief Feb. 2 meeting at the district office.
The meeting opened at 6:00 p.m., Chair Wright led roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, and the board approved a small amendment to the agenda before adopting it.
In personnel actions, the board voted to accept the retirement of Sandy Opheim, effective May 26, 2026, and acknowledged Opheim’s 26 years of service to the Staples‑Motley School District. The hire included on the consent agenda, Madelyn Ziegler as an elementary social worker, was approved as part of the consent motion.
The board then approved a sequence of non‑renewals for the 2025–2026 school year. Motions and roll‑call tallies recorded in the meeting minutes show unanimous votes (members listed in favor in each roll call: Reeck, Reese, Freeman, Frisk, Wright and Trout) on each personnel item. The motions included non‑renewal or ULA (union leave/agreement type) actions for the following individuals (role as stated in the minutes): Claire Grunewald (resignation, JH softball coach), Melissa Jewison (resignation, Adventures Assistant), Jessica Williams (resignation, elementary paraprofessional); non‑renewals for Samantha Schimpp (Tier 1 teacher), Kristi Odden (Tier 1), Jeff Sterriker (Tier 1), Aaron Carter (Tier 1), Jocelyn Anderson (Tier 2), Amanda Keplin (Tier 2), Tina Mitts (Tier 2), Angela Jares (Tier 2), Kristopher Mumm (Tier 2), Bobbyjo Johnson (probationary teacher, out‑of‑field permission), Holt Truax (probationary, out‑of‑field permission), Teneesa Mumm (probationary), Emili Vieths (probationary); and ULA approvals for Kim Prestridge and Lisa Koenigs (tenured teachers with out‑of‑field placements). Each item was announced with the motion maker and second as recorded in the minutes and listed as carried.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (minutes, fundraiser request, listed resignations, and hire of Madelyn Ziegler): motion by Freeman, second by Trout — carried. - Accept retirement of Sandy Opheim (effective May 26, 2026): motion by Frisk, second by Reese — carried. - Non‑renewal motions (Samantha Schimpp; Kristi Odden; Jeff Sterriker; Aaron Carter; Jocelyn Anderson; Amanda Keplin; Tina Mitts; Angela Jares; Kristopher Mumm; Bobbyjo Johnson; Holt Truax; Teneesa Mumm; Emili Vieths): each motion recorded with the mover and seconder as listed in the minutes and carried by recorded roll‑call votes; roll‑call lists in the minutes show all voting members in favor, no recorded oppositions. - ULA approvals for Kim Prestridge and Lisa Koenigs (tenured teachers with out‑of‑field placements): motions carried by roll call.
No public comment or extended discussion on personnel items is recorded in the official minutes; actions were taken by motion and roll‑call vote and recorded as carried. The board adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
The board listed upcoming meetings and events, including Feb. 17 and Mar. 2 board meetings, absentee voting opening Feb. 27, and election day April 14.
