No primary elections in school district this fall

Primary elections won't be held in the Brainerd School District.

The Brainerd School Board on Monday unanimously voted to not hold a primary election this fall.

Steve Lund, director of business services, said the Legislature used to require school districts to hold a primary if there were more than two candidates per open seat who filed. Lund said the Legislature is allowing school boards to choose whether to hold a primary or not.

Board chair Ruth Nelson made a motion to not hold a primary so the district could save $30,000; the other members agreed.

Board members whose four-year terms expire at the end of this year are Nelson, Lew Hudson and Bob Nystrom. Board member Molly Kurtzman's two-year seat - she was appointed last fall - also will expire.

In other business, the school board heard that Kim Brown, a Brainerd bus driver, was recognized by the Minnesota Special Education Transportation Committee as being the No. 2 bus driver in the state in serving students with special needs.

Accepted the resignation of Nancy Palmer, first-grade teacher at Garfield Elementary School, effective June 7.

Accepted a revision to Cyndy Thompson's retirement, which will be Oct. 26.

Hired Jessica Scrimshaw as a music teacher at Forestview Middle School, effective for the 2009-10 school year.

Passed a resolution of support recognizing the National Guard and Reserve.

Heard that the district's Parent Partnership Project Retreat grant was approved for $1,500.

Heard that Heather Klever, special education teacher at the Area Education Center, was awarded a Great Lakes College Access Champion award.

Heard that Jeff Johnson, who works with Warrior Workers at the AEC, was awarded $1,500 from the Crow Wing Power Community Trust for Operation Round Up. The grant will support the summer youth Warrior Workers program, a collaboration with Rural Minnesota CEP.

Heard that the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation awarded the Nisswa Community Children's Library $3,500 to continue summer library programming.

Heard from Brainerd Superintendent Steve Razidlo that the district is sharing with the Minnesota Department of Health reports of students who are sick, along with information on symptoms. Razidlo said the state has new guidelines schools must follow in light of the swine flu.

There have been no cases of swine flu in the Brainerd district.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch. com or 855-5851.