*Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of The Messenger.
Most residents don't have the time to attend school board meetings, read lengthy agenda packets, or review employment contracts. That's understandable. However, that is precisely why we elect school board members. We trust them to do the homework, ask the tough questions, and serve as careful stewards of our tax dollars.
With the upcoming school board election, now is an appropriate time to revisit decisions made by the previous board that continue to affect district finances today.
Mr. Harvey served as superintendent of Zumbrota-Mazeppa for 6 years. In February 2022, the school board that Mr. Wendt and Ms. Roth served on approved a contract with a provision requiring the district to continue paying Harveys family health insurance if he retired before reaching Medicare age.
Mr. Harvey left the district in 2023 at 53 years old. Since then his health insurance premiums have cost our district $117K. This year alone, that cost totaled a little more than $36k. With roughly nine years remaining until Harvey will turn 65 (Medicare age), if health insurance premiums continue to increase at their current rates, the total cost of this provision will easily exceed half a million dollars by the time the obligation ends.
Think about what that means. More than $500,000 will be spent on benefits for a former employee instead of supporting students, classrooms, educational opportunities, facility needs or reducing financial pressures on the district.
During that time Mr. Wendt was serving on the negotiating committee that finalized this contract and Ms. Roth and Mr. Wendt approved this with no apparent discussion or questions reflected in the minutes. This information can be found in the 2/28/2022 meeting packet listed on the district website.
I am not pointing out past grievances, I am making the public aware of the kinds of financial decisions that were made by these public officials in hopes that everyone can make the most informed choice for our students. I do not believe this decision was made out of malice or with the willful intention of burdening taxpayers. Perhaps assumptions were made. Perhaps difficult questions were never asked. Whatever the reason, the result is the same: our district remains responsible for a costly obligation that provides no direct benefit to today's students. It is a financial burden that taxpayers will continue to carry for years to come.
On November 3rd, I urge my fellow ZM district voters to bring fiscal accountability back to our school board by voting for Jake Rude, Travis Liffrig, and Paul Peterman.
-Christine Rude
Zumbrota
