Kenyon-Wanamingo board places five continuing-contract teachers on unrequested leave

The Kenyon-Wanamingo School Board voted unanimously April 27 to propose placing five continuing-contract teachers on unrequested leave of absence effective at the end of the 2025–26 school year on June 30, 2026.

Member Debb Paquin introduced each resolution, citing “lack of pupils” and “financial limitations” under M.S. 122A.40. The motion proposing that “Blair Reynolds … be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits, effective at the end of the 2025 - 2026 school year on June 30, 2026” was seconded by Tonya Craig and adopted 7-0. Similar resolutions were introduced and passed for Megan Sabrowsky, Katie Valek, Stephanie Ennis and Chloe Gohman; each resolution passed unanimously.

The board treated the five resolutions as separate actions. For each, the minutes record the motion maker as Member Debb Paquin and a member of the board providing the second (Tonya Craig; Marilyn Syverson; James Jarvis; Erica Aronson; Madilynn Lurken, respectively). Each resolution cites M.S. 122A.40 as the statutory authority for placement on unrequested leave. The motions were recorded as approved by roll-call vote with all seven board members voting in favor and none voting against.

The decisions mean the district will notify each named teacher and place an affidavit in the teacher’s personnel file, consistent with the resolution language. The actions do not describe recall timelines, seniority-based bumping, or specific staffing replacements; those details were not specified in the minutes.

The board also approved a related Memo of Agreement on PTO compensation for teachers placed on unrequested leave during the same meeting.