By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills School District and teachers association has agreed to a new two-year contract.

The contract was officially approved by the school board on Monday night, after being approved by the teachers union earlier in the day. 

NY Mills School Board member Wendy Hetland credited the work of the teachers and individuals on the negotiating committees for working well together and making the process as smooth as possible as they reached a new two year contract. 

“I would really like to show my appreciation for the teachers on the committee,” said Hetland who also said the two sides worked well together to make the negotiation process run smoothly. 

As part of the new contract, there will be no change in the insurance contribution this year, but in 2022-23 the contribution will be raised $50 per month. The salary will increase by $1,470 for each cell this year and by a 2.48 percent in every cell during the 2022-23 school year. 

The new contract took effect on July 1, 2021 and will go through June 20, 2023. 

In other news

• Received the following donations: $2,000 from Womenade for elementary focus, $600 from the NY Mills VFW for band, $2,000 from the Ottertail Rod and Gun Club for the trapshooting team and $1,000 from the Ottertail Rod and Gun Club for the fishing team. 

• Approved the use of federal relief funding for additional staff members, due to the specific needs that have risen, due to the challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic. Novak said the additional teachers could help to benefit the school district for things like smaller class sizes and providing different ways to help with the loss of learning due to the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Approved the retirement requests from elementary special education teacher Connie Griffith and elementary teacher Matt Radniecki. 

• Discussed the potential for e-learning days as soon as next school year to combat the conventional snow days. The e-learning days would be similar to distance learning in the event of inclement weather and is being utilized at several other school districts in the area.