Several members noted that the board is facing some difficult decisions in the near future as it works to solve financial problems. District employees have been asked to find ways to cut 10% of their budgets to help resolve the budget deficit.
“We’ve talked about this for a long time,” said Amber Flynn, board president, speaking in favor of ending the policy. “I don’t feel the decision is abrupt.”
Flynn suggested the board look for other ways to “make a more robust bucket for teachers.”
Board member Doug Carpenter reiterated his position that the district should not incentivize teachers to retire, with this policy, given that the state is facing a teacher shortage. He supported discontinuing the policy at the end of this school year, rather than in 2023, as had been considered.
Melissa Buchhop, president of the Grand Forks Education Association, said the policy may be the reason the district has retained some teachers in the district.
“Maybe this policy is why they did stay,” Buchhop said.
Teacher Arlene O’Halloran, who addressed the board, questioned whether a teacher shortage exists in Grand Forks, noting that several teachers have taken jobs in Fargo “because they couldn’t get a job here,” she said.
Grand Forks teacher Steve Paintner, who also addressed the board, maintained that the policy saves the district money, replacing more highly-paid teachers with lower-paid teachers who are starting their careers.
Scott Berge, business manager for the district, said that while he agreed “with the math,” he disagreed with the assumptions underlying the numbers Paintner presented. Berge stressed that the school district faces difficult financial challenges and is the only large district in the state that offers an early retirement option.
In other action, the board heard from city officials, economic development leaders and developers seeking School Board approval of a tax exemption plan that would affect four proposed redevelopment projects.
The plan involves the Beacon by EPIC, the Memorial Village on the UND campus, the Lyons Auto project on North Fourth Street and the St. John’s Block project on DeMers Avenue downtown. The projects, which have received preliminary City Council approval for “tax increment financing,” also known as a TIF, represent a total investment of $116 million in the city of Grand Forks, said Todd Feland, Grand Forks city administrator.
The plan must be approved by the School Board and the County Commission to move ahead. The School Board intends to vote on the plan at its next meeting, Jan. 25.
The $48.9 million Beacon project would replace the former Town House hotel with apartments, retail space and a plaza for public events. If approved, work would begin with groundbreaking on the first two buildings this summer, with groundbreaking for a third building in summer 2022.
Northridge Construction is proposing a $27.3 million project, across the street from City Hall at the Lyons Auto location, that would place several stories of office, retail and apartment space on the site.
A consortium of developers is planning to sink $7 million into renovation of St. John’s Block, and Burian and Associates is planning a $25 million plan to replace UND’s Memorial Stadium.
North Dakota law requires that other taxing entities, namely the school district and the county, approve of such a plan that would reduce a developer’s taxes for more than five years.
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January 12, 2021 at 11:00AM
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Grand Forks School Board votes to rescind early retirement policy - Grand Forks Herald
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