Park Rapids School Board extends timeframe for COVID leave
The school board approved extending paid emergency sick leave and partially-paid family and medical leave through the FFCRA until March 31. 1:00 pm, Jan. 22, 2021 ×
The Park Rapids School Board extended the deadline Tuesday for employees to apply for leave under the U.S. Families First Coronavirus Recovery Act.
The FFCRA required employers to provide up to 80 hours of paid emergency sick leave and up to 12 weeks of partially-paid, expanded family and medical leave through Dec. 31, 2020. However, the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act offered the option for covered employers to extend the deadline for eligible employees to take unused hours or days of leave through March 31, according to the resolution read by school board chair Sherry Safratowich.
The newly reorganized school board swore in three members on Jan. 4. 6:00 am, Jan. 7, 2021 ×
The Park Rapids School Board held an organizational meeting on Jan. 4. Current members are, from left, Sherry Safratowich, Dennis Dodge, Stephanie Carlson, Clayton Hoyt, Jay Pike and Dana Kocka. (Robin Fish/Enterprise)
The Park Rapids School Board had a re-organizational meeting on Monday.
School board members Sherry Safratowich and Jay Pike, reelected in November, and new board member Dana Kocka were sworn in.
Board member Steph Carlson moved to retain the board’s current slate of officers, except to appoint Clayton Hoyt as vice-chair upon Gary Gauldin’s retirement from the school board. The motion passed unanimously. Other board officers are Safratowich as chair, Carlson as clerk and Dennis Dodge as treasurer.
The former high school principal held office for 16 years. 8:00 am, Dec. 30, 2020 ×
Gary Gauldin (Enterprise file photo)
The Park Rapids School Board paused Dec. 21 to recognize school board member Gary Gauldin, whose term ends Dec. 31.
Gauldin came to Park Rapids in 1971 as an industrial arts teacher. He also coached wrestling, middle school football and track, and later served as the high school principal.
Elected to the school board after retirement, Gauldin has served 16 years on the board, most recently as vice-chair. He did not seek re-election in November. However, he has one year left of his term in the Minnesota School Boards Association delegate assembly.
Wayzata School Board member Andrea Cuene has received All-State School Board award honors for her work to improve the school district and advocate for students.
Kirk Schneidawind, executive director for the Minnesota School Boards Association, presented the award Dec. 14. Cuene is one of five recipients this year.
âThis award is given to those public school board members who walk the talk â they know good governance, they know how to advocate for students, they know how to work with others as a team, they set the bar on ethics â all of these are attributes from MSBAâs five standards for board members,â said Schneidawind.