By Aaron Vehling

Staff changes continued Thursday night at the first North Branch school board meeting of the year.

Assistant superintendent Rodney Reisnouer was appointed to the position of interim superintendent, and high school principal Michael Trok announced in a letter that he plans to retire at the end of the school year.

The boardís superintendent search sub-committee, comprised of board members Donna Setter, Mary Jo Ahlgren and Kim Salo, said they decided to appoint Reisnouer to the position of interim superintendent for a period of two years.

Salo said the sub-committee assessed desired qualities they were looking for in a future superintendent and that the group decided to select someone from inside the school district who met those criteria, as opposed an external candidate.
The cost of an external search, Salo said, would have been at least $15,000.
To the sub-committee, Reisnouer, who has worked in the education field for 28 years, was the perfect selection.

ìI am certain that he is going to provide strong leadership and definitely move us ahead,î Salo said.
Ahlgren agreed.

ìWe were fortunate to have such an experienced internal candidate for this position,î she said.
Reisnouer said he looked forward to the position.

ìI know we have serious issues ahead of us,î he said. ìIt will certainly be my privilege to work with the district.î

Reisnouer will replace Dr. Robert Stepaniak who announced in November his plans to retire at the end of the school year. Reisnouer will start July 1, though his contract has yet to be negotiated.

In regard to the retirement of Trok, Ahlgren had kind words to say about the departing principal.

ìHis leadership and candor is exceptional,î she said. ìHe will be greatly missed.î

Trok has been principal of the high school since 1991. He was principal of two other high schools, including Grand Meadow High School from 1978-1981 and Milaca High School from 1981-1991.
For the past few years Trok has been teaching at the university level. Since 2003 he has been a guest lecturer on school security at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He also was an adjunct professor in school security and organization at Minnesota State University at Mankato.

Trok said in a statement that he plans to continue teaching at the graduate level, as well as refining school security procedures.
At the organizational meeting, which preceded the regular meeting, the board approved raises for themselves.

The North Branch school board earned significantly less during 2004 compared to metro school districts, according to region-wide data on school board compensation. When compared to area school districts the gap was smaller.
For example, members of the Columbia Heights school board each received a stipend of $4,800 for 2004 for 22 pre-scheduled and 12 additional meetings. The chairperson received $6,000.
The Chisago Lakes school district paid its board members $35 a meeting for 15 pre-scheduled meetings and about three additional meetings. Chairperson compensation was about $500 plus $35 a meeting.
The North Branch school boardís compensation was not much less than that of Chisago Lakes. Regular members earned $30 a meeting. The chairperson earned $300 plus $30 a meeting.
Setter recommended an increase to $40 a meeting and $500 for the chairperson.
Salo said that an increase is necessary because the members invest a lot of their time in their duties.

ìThere are often times when we have meetings that require us to get off work early or take off work altogether,î she said.

Board member Jeanne Walz said there is no good time to raise the boardís salaries.

ìThis is hard for me,î she said. ìI have a hard time wanting to raise our fees during this budget crunch. I just really am torn.î
The board approved the increase 5-1 with Walz opposed.
Also at the regular meeting, Dennis Hoogeveen, an auditor from the firm Larson Allen, presented his report to the board.
He assessed the districtís fiscal responsibility during fiscal year 2004.
He said the board managed revenues and expenditures appropriately.

ì(The district) was able to limit expenditures and came out $1.3 million below what was budgeted,î he said.

He added that there was no fraud present in the books.
Another issue addressed at the regular meeting was the expulsion of two students, one from the high school and one from the middle school.

The high school student student was sharing prescribed drugs.

ìA clear violation of policy,î said Stepaniak.

The administration recommended the student be expelled for the remainder of the school year.

The middle school student was arrested Dec. 17 for making terroristic threats. Stepaniak recommended the student be expelled for 12 months, which is the maximum amount of time a student can be lawfully expelled.
The board voted unanimously to expel both students.

Stepaniak also announced at the meeting that the North Branch Area Chamber of Commerce had donated a yearís membership to the school district.

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