Roseville School District and Board Briefs

Here is a rundown of noteworthy items and actions that have occurred since the start of the new school year in Roseville District 623:

Senatorial Visitors

Teachers and other employees returning to work in Roseville Area Schools had some surprise visitors. U.S. Sen. Al Franken and State Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius attended a workshop the week before school began, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar attended the annual Education Minnesota breakfast for teaching staff. 

Franken urged teachers and staff to “keep the main thing, the main thing,” a phrase frequently used by Superintendent John Thein.

Klobuchar shared her experiences growing up with a mother who was an elementary school teacher and reiterated her commitment to education.

Kysylyczyn plans to take complaint to state office of administrative hearings

Former Roseville Mayor John Kysylyczyn says he will take his complaint against the Roseville School Board and the school administration to the state Office of Administrative Hearings, the proper place for its adjudication.

Kysylyczyn said the Ramsey County Attorney's Office did not dismiss his complaint, as was earlier reported by Board Chairwoman Lisa Edstrom. Rather, the county attorney ruled that his complaint must first be considered by the state Office of Administrative Hearings.

Kysylyczyn, whose children are enrolled in the district, claimed earlier this summer that district employees and board members were improperly involved in the development and distribution of a communiqué to parents. The school district’s attorney has ruled that the board and the district have not violated state law or board policy.

Teacher Negotiations

At the last regular School Bloard meeting, Superintendent John Thein reported that negotiations with teachers are ongoing, focusing at this time on contract language issues. The District’s collaborative style of bargaining has been used as a model for other districts, he said.