Rock Ridge School Board members declined to hire two elementary school teachers Monday night, as concerns over the budget were weighed against class sizes.

The positions came up for vote after Superintendent Dr. Noel Schmidt presented on staffing levels and class sizes, showing some fifth and sixth grade units with 31 students.

Schmidt said average class sizes are lower at Laurentian Elementary — around 23 kids, with Parkview and North Star near 24 — but Director Brandi Lautigar said the high-end numbers garner more attention.

“Having 31 kids in a fifth grade class just seems to be outrageous,” she said, to an applause from the crowd.

From the business side, Schmidt said, the cost would $100,000 per teacher with benefits and could result in $400,000 of cuts next spring. Lautigar, who is not seeking reelection this fall, said she would ultimately defer to those on, or seeking, a seat for next year.

“You have not budgeted for those positions,” Schmidt added. “And it’s my standard line. You tell me what you want to do, and then we’ll make whatever budget adjustments we need to at the time.”

Director Jennifer Bonner put the motion for two teachers on the table. An amendment for one teacher failed to garner a second.

The board lamented the financial situation it is in, with low cash flow numbers and another year where the budget needed to be trimmed. Others mentioned the request of hiring more teachers when the district was in “tough” negotiations with the teachers union, which has gone more than 400 days without a new contract.

Bonner’s motion failed 4-2 with her and Lauitgar voting for it, but the board agreed to revisit the numbers at its August 24 meeting.

“I would rather wait and see how it shakes out a little bit, because we have to be smart with the money. We do,” said Director Jodi Westby. “We’re not in a position to hire.”

In other board business:

• The board unanimous approved contracts for Lincoln Incorporated (demolition) and Titan Environmental (abatement) for the former James Madison school totaling $1,534,484, about $465,000 under the $2 million projected budget.
• A “bell-to-bell” no cell phone policy for seventh and eighth grade was passed, as well as a new tardy policy that resets weekly.

Accessing the Rock Ridge School Board

Video of the Rock Ridge meeting and the unofficial summary of minutes are provided by Rock Ridge.

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The city of Biwabik heard 12 nuisance ordinance enforcement hearings, ordering abatement on six, granting extensions on five and dismissing one.

Significant debate arose over the definition of an unlicensed/inoperable vehicles at the 602 1st St. N. property.

City Administrator Michael Schultz recommended dismissing the complaint because the vehicle owner had obtained plates, as verified by law enforcement.

Councilor Patti Wallert opposed the dismissal.

“I have a little bit of a problem here because this car has sat there for at least three years and has not moved,” she said. “It has a flat tire. Just because you buy plates, it’s not in running condition. And I just don’t think it’s fair to other people if we let this one go.”

A motion to dismiss failed on a tied 2-2 vote with Wallert and Councilor Catharine Niemi against. Mayor Steve Biondich was absent. A three-week extension was ultimately passed 3-1 with Wallert against.

Accessing the Biwabik City Council

Agendas, minutes and videos of council meetings are available on the city website.

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Hoyt Lakes City Councilors addressed a citizen concern about a Flock camera in city limits, noting it is a camera used by the East Range Police Department that looks similar, but is not a Flock camera.

The camera in question appeared on the DeFlock open source database where people can report the location of Flock cameras. The fundamental difference, said Councilor Dave Jarvela, is that the police camera does not have the ability to read license plates.

Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers have become the center of a growing national debate over police surveillance.

The cameras photograph passing vehicles and record information including license plates, vehicle characteristics, time and location, creating a searchable database law enforcement can use to investigate crimes and locate vehicles.

Supporters credit the technology with helping find stolen vehicles, suspects and missing people, while critics have raised concerns about the scale of the network, sharing of data between agencies and cases in which officers improperly used the system for personal surveillance.

The backlash has prompted some communities to suspend or cancel contracts and Flock to announce new safeguards, including shorter default data-retention periods and additional requirements for police searches.

Mayor Brennan Scott said the city has seen vandalism around city hall and at the beach, so the camera is one tool East Range Police are using.

“I know that’s kind of a been a big thing recently with those Flock cameras and invasions of privacy and things like that, but that’s not our intention with that, or the police department’s intentions,” he said. “It’s just to ensure people’s safety and things aren’t being destroyed.”

Accessing the Hoyt Lakes City Council

Hoyt Lakes City Council agendas, minutes and packets can be found on the city’s website. Recordings of the meetings can be found on YouTube.

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It was brought to my attention there is a donation being collected at First National Bank in Gilbert for Mesabi Tribune reporter Linda Tyssen. We worked with Linda during out time at the Trib and she’s an institution there still. The donation is to help with some ongoing medical care. Thanks to the Korva family for setting it up.