ITEM NUMBER: 7.B.
School Board Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 02/02/2026
- Prepared By:
- John Lustig
Item Type:
Subject:
Personnel
Background:
APPOINTMENTS (INSTRUCTIONAL)
Drew Burling - Part-time (0.50 FTE) Long-term Substitute Teacher at West High School beginning January 27, 2026, and continuing through the end of the 2025-26 school year. She will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule.
Dawn Mills - Full-time (1.00 FTE) Special Education Teacher, site to be determined, beginning August 24, 2026, for the 2026-27 school year. She will be placed at step 10 of the M lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule.
Evelyn Scheibe - Long-term Substitute Teacher at Prairie Winds Middle School beginning February 23, 2026, and continuing through the end of the 2025-26 school year. She will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule.
Emma Sill - Correction - Part-time (0.37 FTE) Medical Careers Teacher at West High School beginning January 20, 2026. She will be placed at step 8 of the B+15 lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule.
APPOINTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL)
Andie Albers - Teacher in Residence at Eagle Lake Elementary School for 7.33 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 12 and ending May 6, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $23.00 per hour.
Madilyn Bodle - Teacher in Residence at Rosa Parks Elementary School for 7.33 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 12 and ending May 6, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $23.00 per hour.
Luz Escalera - ACES Child Care Assistant at Franklin Elementary School for 1.5 hours per day/2 days per week beginning January 28, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour.
Rose Kuhn - ACES Child Care Assistant at Jefferson Elementary School for 3-4 hours per day/1 days per week beginning January 26, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour.
Denise Moody - Cook Helper at Dakota Meadows Middle School for 6 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 26, 2026. She will be placed at classification A11, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association.
Ubah Shire - Building Supervisor with Community Education on an as needed basis beginning February 1, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $18.00 per hour. This is in addition to the Out of School Time Navigator assignment with Community Education.
Sophie Thomas - ACES Child Care Assistant at Monroe Elementary School for 1.5 hours per day/2 days per week beginning January 28, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.50 per hour.
CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (INSTRUCTIONAL)
Luisa Hernandez - Increase in assignment as Spanish Teacher from 1.00 FTE to 1.083 FTE for the second semester of the 2025-26 school year.
REQUESTS FOR SALARY LANE ADVANCEMENT (INSTRUCTIONAL)
In accordance with the terms of the agreement between the Mankato Teachers Association and the District, teachers have submitted their request for salary lane advancement. Each of these requests has been reviewed and a list of those qualifying for salary lane advancement for January of the 2025-26 school year is shown below. The salary lane advancements will be retroactive to January 1, 2026, of the 2025-26 school year. The Administration recommends that the Board approve the salary lane advancements.
CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL)
Graham Christianson - Voluntary decrease in assignment as Health & Wellness Paraeducator at Futures from 4.5 hours per week/3 days per week (M/W/F) and 4.75 hours per day/2 days per week (T/TH) to 4.5 hours per week/3 days per week (M/W/F) and 2.5 hours per day/2 days per week (T/TH) beginning January 26, 2026.
Hailey Hoppe - Adjust end date to May 6, 2026, as Teacher in Residence at Rosa Parks Elementary School.
Chloe Murray - Increase in assignment as Non-classroom Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School from 2.167 hours per day/4 days per week (T-F) to 2.167 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 12 and ending May 18, 2026.
Carlese Ronning - Increase in assignment as Non-classroom Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School from 2.167 hours per day/3 days per week (M/W/F) to 2.167 hours per day/2 days per week (T/TH) and .75 hours per day/3 days per week (M/W/F) beginning January 12 and ending May 18, 2026.
Tahura Tari - Increase in assignment as ABE Teaching Assistant with the Adult Basic Education program at Lincoln Community Center from 1 hour per day/4 days per week (M-TH) to 2 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) beginning January 13, and ending May 8, 2026. This is in addition to her Childcare Aide assignment at Lincoln Logs Learning Center.
Tahura Tari - Voluntary decrease in assignment as Childcare Aide at Lincoln Logs Learning Center from 3.5 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) to 2.5 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) beginning January 13, and ending May 8, 2026. This is in addition to her ABE Teaching Assistant assignment at Lincoln Community Center.
REQUESTS FOR LEAVE (INSTRUCTIONAL)
Kristina Kullman - Extend Board-approved leave through the end of the 2025-26 school year.
REQUESTS FOR LEAVE (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL)
Madilyn Bodle - Special Education Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School, has submitted a request for unpaid leave in order to accept the Teacher in Residence assignment beginning January 12, and returning to work on May 7, 2026.
Hailey Hoppe - Extend Board-approved leave, returning on May 7, 2026.
RESIGNATIONS (INSTRUCTIONAL)
Colleen Geffe-Dahle - Kindergarten Teacher at Monroe Elementary School, has submitted a resignation for the purpose of retirement. The last day of employment will be May 26, 2026.
Kim Strand - Speech Language Pathologist with the District has submitted a resignation for the purpose of retirement. The last day of employment will be May 26, 2026.
RESIGNATIONS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL)
Danica Schmidt - Kitchen Float Cook Helper at West High School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be January 23, 2026.
Julie Sonnek - Health & Wellness Paraeducator at Prairie Winds Middle School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be January 26, 2026.
Drew Burling - Part-time (0.50 FTE) Long-term Substitute Teacher at West High School beginning January 27, 2026, and continuing through the end of the 2025-26 school year. She will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule.
Dawn Mills - Full-time (1.00 FTE) Special Education Teacher, site to be determined, beginning August 24, 2026, for the 2026-27 school year. She will be placed at step 10 of the M lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule.
Evelyn Scheibe - Long-term Substitute Teacher at Prairie Winds Middle School beginning February 23, 2026, and continuing through the end of the 2025-26 school year. She will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule.
Emma Sill - Correction - Part-time (0.37 FTE) Medical Careers Teacher at West High School beginning January 20, 2026. She will be placed at step 8 of the B+15 lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule.
APPOINTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL)
Andie Albers - Teacher in Residence at Eagle Lake Elementary School for 7.33 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 12 and ending May 6, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $23.00 per hour.
Madilyn Bodle - Teacher in Residence at Rosa Parks Elementary School for 7.33 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 12 and ending May 6, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $23.00 per hour.
Luz Escalera - ACES Child Care Assistant at Franklin Elementary School for 1.5 hours per day/2 days per week beginning January 28, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour.
Rose Kuhn - ACES Child Care Assistant at Jefferson Elementary School for 3-4 hours per day/1 days per week beginning January 26, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour.
Denise Moody - Cook Helper at Dakota Meadows Middle School for 6 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 26, 2026. She will be placed at classification A11, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association.
Ubah Shire - Building Supervisor with Community Education on an as needed basis beginning February 1, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $18.00 per hour. This is in addition to the Out of School Time Navigator assignment with Community Education.
Sophie Thomas - ACES Child Care Assistant at Monroe Elementary School for 1.5 hours per day/2 days per week beginning January 28, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.50 per hour.
CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (INSTRUCTIONAL)
Luisa Hernandez - Increase in assignment as Spanish Teacher from 1.00 FTE to 1.083 FTE for the second semester of the 2025-26 school year.
REQUESTS FOR SALARY LANE ADVANCEMENT (INSTRUCTIONAL)
In accordance with the terms of the agreement between the Mankato Teachers Association and the District, teachers have submitted their request for salary lane advancement. Each of these requests has been reviewed and a list of those qualifying for salary lane advancement for January of the 2025-26 school year is shown below. The salary lane advancements will be retroactive to January 1, 2026, of the 2025-26 school year. The Administration recommends that the Board approve the salary lane advancements.
| Name | From | To |
| Monica Bjornstad | B+15 | M |
| Claire Christianson | B+15 | M |
| Renae Danberry | B | B+15 |
| Summer Hornemann | B | B+15 |
| Erika Kuhlers | B | B+15 |
| Amy Luethmers | B+15 | B+30 |
| Danielle Peterson | M | M+30 |
| Sarah Peterson | B | B+15 |
| Abigail Rannow | B | M |
| Annakeiko Reichel | M | M+30 |
| Amanda Shaw | B+30 | M |
| Jeremy Steffensmeier | M+30 | M+45 |
| Maria Stock | B+15 | M |
| Katie Trembley | M | M+30 |
| Katherine Westman | M | M+30 |
| Brittany Wundermachen | B | B+15 |
CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL)
Graham Christianson - Voluntary decrease in assignment as Health & Wellness Paraeducator at Futures from 4.5 hours per week/3 days per week (M/W/F) and 4.75 hours per day/2 days per week (T/TH) to 4.5 hours per week/3 days per week (M/W/F) and 2.5 hours per day/2 days per week (T/TH) beginning January 26, 2026.
Hailey Hoppe - Adjust end date to May 6, 2026, as Teacher in Residence at Rosa Parks Elementary School.
Chloe Murray - Increase in assignment as Non-classroom Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School from 2.167 hours per day/4 days per week (T-F) to 2.167 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 12 and ending May 18, 2026.
Carlese Ronning - Increase in assignment as Non-classroom Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School from 2.167 hours per day/3 days per week (M/W/F) to 2.167 hours per day/2 days per week (T/TH) and .75 hours per day/3 days per week (M/W/F) beginning January 12 and ending May 18, 2026.
Tahura Tari - Increase in assignment as ABE Teaching Assistant with the Adult Basic Education program at Lincoln Community Center from 1 hour per day/4 days per week (M-TH) to 2 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) beginning January 13, and ending May 8, 2026. This is in addition to her Childcare Aide assignment at Lincoln Logs Learning Center.
Tahura Tari - Voluntary decrease in assignment as Childcare Aide at Lincoln Logs Learning Center from 3.5 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) to 2.5 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) beginning January 13, and ending May 8, 2026. This is in addition to her ABE Teaching Assistant assignment at Lincoln Community Center.
REQUESTS FOR LEAVE (INSTRUCTIONAL)
Kristina Kullman - Extend Board-approved leave through the end of the 2025-26 school year.
REQUESTS FOR LEAVE (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL)
Madilyn Bodle - Special Education Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School, has submitted a request for unpaid leave in order to accept the Teacher in Residence assignment beginning January 12, and returning to work on May 7, 2026.
Hailey Hoppe - Extend Board-approved leave, returning on May 7, 2026.
RESIGNATIONS (INSTRUCTIONAL)
Colleen Geffe-Dahle - Kindergarten Teacher at Monroe Elementary School, has submitted a resignation for the purpose of retirement. The last day of employment will be May 26, 2026.
Kim Strand - Speech Language Pathologist with the District has submitted a resignation for the purpose of retirement. The last day of employment will be May 26, 2026.
RESIGNATIONS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL)
Danica Schmidt - Kitchen Float Cook Helper at West High School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be January 23, 2026.
Julie Sonnek - Health & Wellness Paraeducator at Prairie Winds Middle School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be January 26, 2026.
Recommended Action:
The Administration recommends the approval of the personnel items.