SLEEPY EYE — After discussion Wednesday, the District 84 Board of Education approved a resignation and a one-year leave of absence request by kindergarten teacher Trent Weicherding.

Superintendent John Cselovszki said Weicherding accepted an ECSE (Early Childhood Special Education) position at Riverbend Area Learning Center in New Ulm.

Several board members and Cselovszki voiced their support for Weicherding as a teacher and said they would welcome him back to Sleepy Eye Public School if he decides to come back.

“I think he’s a great teacher. He’s been here nine years and done very well,” said board member Casey Coulson.

Cselovszki said all school staff is hired for this fall but that teacher salary and benefit negotiations continue. He said the teacher’s union proposed a 16.4 percent family insurance increase for two years while the district’s latest offer is an 8.2 percent hike over two years.

The board approved hiring kindergarten teacher Hanna Kuhnley for the 2017-18 school year at $34,688; the resignation of elementary special education paraprofessional Cassie Rango, hiring Sheila Nesset as fall cheerleading coach at $763 and accepted a $25 donation for the school safety patrol program from the Minnesota Drifter Motorcycle Club.

Cselovszki reported on the AASA (American Association of School Administrators) meeting in Washington, D.C. He said the group opposes the Republican Party’s health care proposal that would cut Medicaid support to schools, opposed any type of school voucher proposal, opposed a proposed 14 percent cut to the federal title program and opposed the full elimination of Title 2 funds by the Trump Administration.

Cselovszki said the elimination of Title 2 funds would cost the school district about $37,000 a year.

“Public funds go to public schools,” Cselovszski said regarding a school voucher proposal.