Questions arise over recording of April meeting

An Albert Lea School Board member called for an outside, independent investigation Monday into a prior board meeting.

Board member Jill Marin made the request pertaining to the April 18 board meeting that included discussion of a possible lawsuit from Marin’s recording of the April 4 meeting. The recording, posted on Facebook, initially included School Board member Linda Laurie and Albert Lea Area Schools secretary Ashley Mattson discussing personal information.

The portion of the meeting was later edited out.

Marin — who is requesting legal counsel outside of the district’s legal counsel — said she understands that open meeting laws forbid discussion of personnel issues regarding employees of the district during open meetings. She said any allegations, discussion of investigations, complaints, rumors and other topics about an employee are not allowed to be discussed in an open meeting.

Marin she is also still looking into what happened during a Jan. 19 closed session.

The legality of the closed session at the meeting for a self-evaluation has been discussed since early this year.

Marin said she submitted a letter to Board Chairman Mark Ciota in April asking for an external investigation into the Jan. 19 meeting, and claimed she received a response that said there is a bullying policy for students and advised her to make someone aware if she had experienced harassment based on age, sex, religion or similar factors.

She said she stands by her request for Ciota’s resignation made last month, and said she continues to take the process one step at a time.

“There are changes that need to be made, and I believe that they need to be made now,” she said.

Marin said she has heard stories, tears and anguish from people who are not in a position to speak up about alleged mistreatment they have faced, and added she is in a position to stand up for those people.

“I have my own story of mistreatment that has happened here, in this room,” Marin said, and claimed that each board member has either participated in or condoned her being bullied.

Superintendent Mike Funk said after the meeting that officials will review Marin’s request for an outside investigation.

“We have to take a look at her allegations,” Funk said.

Ciota said after the meeting that the district needs to focus on its positive direction, as discussed during the meeting.

In other action, the board:

Heard a presentation from Albert Lea Area Schools energy manager Stephan Lund about the district’s employee-based energy conservation program that has reportedly saved more than $3.3 million since the program’s inception during the 2002-03 school year.

Heard a presentation from Kenneth Griswold, coordinator of technology and integration, about the progress of Chromebook rollout at Southwest Middle School. Southwest Middle School will have close to a 1-to-1 Chromebook-to-student ratio this year, he said.

Approved the district’s internet acceptable use and safety policy, with a few adjustments. Each student will now have a Gmail account. Filtering websites and preventing cyberbullying were addressed in the policy adjustments.

Approved South Central Service Cooperative membership dues.

Approved a Area Learning Center lease agreement with Riverland Community College.

Approved the board’s mission statement to ensure individual, academic, social and emotional growth that leads to engaged citizens and lifelong learners.

Presented a certificate of recognition to AP scholars Sam Moyer and Matthew Tate and AP Scholar with Distinction Sam Ware.

Look for more from Monday’s meeting in Wednesday’s Tribune.