RESIGNATION AND RELEASE 1. RESIGNATION: |, Heather Raknerud, am hereby submitting my resignation from my current position(s) from the Minot Public School District. The resignation is effective immediately, with the following conditions: '* That the School District inform the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the contemplated discharge of Heather Raknerud, OAH File No. 20230078, that the Schoo! District will no longer need to hold a hearing pursuant to N.0.C.C. § 15.1-15-08. * Inthe event the “Confirmed” decision of the Ward County Human Service Zone is reversed ‘on appeal, the finding of child neglect against Heather Raknerud is completely overturned, Heather Raknerud does not engage in any conduct that would warrant further grounds for discharge, and she continues to hold a valid teaching license, the School District shall offer Heather Raknerud a teaching contract for a position in which she is qualified to teach. There is no guarantee as to a specific position or the position she held during the 2022-2023 school year. a. In the event the Ward County Human Service Zone’s assessment decision is not reversed on appeal, the finding against Heather Raknerud is not completely overturned, Heather Raknerud engages in conduct that would warrant further grounds for discharge, and/or Heather Raknerud does not hold a valid teaching license, the Schoo! District has no obligation to offer her a contract. b. Heather Raknerud will provide the School District with a copy of any and all documentation and information provided to her from the North Dakota Department ‘of Human Services or the Department's designee relating to a decision on her appeal of the Ward County Human Service Zone’s assessment decision, within five calendardays of her recelving it. Failure to do so will waive the School District's obligation to offer her a contract. c. The School District’s obligation to offer Heather Raknerud a contract under this Resignation and Release expires on December 15, 2023, or if Heather Raknerud fails to provide the School District notice of the decision within five calendar days of her receiving it, whichever is earlier. ‘© Nothing herein prevents the School District from disciplining Heather Raknerud for any potential misconduct or performance issues that the School District may become aware of following the date of this Resignation and Release. In further consideration of the aforementioned conditions, Heather Raknerud and the Minot Public School District agree to the following: 2. WAIVER OF CONTINUING CONTRACT & HEARING: Heather Raknerud waives any rights to have a hearing or offer of contin ig contract pursuant to N.D.C.C. ch. 15.1-15. 3. RELEASE: Heather Raknerud, for herself, her heirs, executors, personal representatives, administrators, agents and assigns, releases and forever discharges the Minot Public School District, its officers, directors, employees, insurers, agents, successors, and assigns from all claims, demands, debts, suits, actions or causes of actions based on any legal theory of liability, damages, liabilities, losses, expenses, compensation, and benefits, in law or in equity, whether known or unknown, which Heather Raknerud ever had, now has or hereafter can, shall or may have prior to and including the date of this, 4 {§ 9-13-02: All rights under N.D.C.C. § 9-13-02, which presently exist or may hereafter accrue are expressly waived by Heather Raknerud and the Minot Public School District. Said section reads as follows: N. § 9-13-02, Extension to known claims“A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in the creditor's favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by the creditor, must have materially affected the creditor's settlement with the debtor.” ENTIRE AGREEMENT: Heather Raknerud and the Minot Pubic Schoo! District declare, warrant ‘and represent that no promise, inducement or agreement not herein expressed has been made to them; that in agreeing to this Resignation and Release the parties have not relied upon any other statements oF representations of the other party; and thatthe terms ofthis Resignation and Release are contractual and not a mere recital Heather Raknerud Date £23 -DS Date ‘Minot Public Schoo! District, Board President ‘A copy of this Resignation & Release will be placed in Heather Raknerud's personnel fil.LL yt Laura Dokken, Business Manager (t7/{6) Iara doken@minock 2s PUBLIC SCHOOLS 215 2 St. SE + Minot, ND 58701 pam a res ed een” Phone 701-857-428» Fax 11857-4852 Mrs. Heather Raknerud 406 18th Ave SW Minot, ND 58701 RE: Contemplated Discharge Dear Mrs. Raknerud: ‘On March 22, 2023, the school board of Minot Public School District voted that a special ‘meeting of the board be held at a time and place to be set by the administrative law judge, at which time the board will discuss and act upon the contemplated discharge of Heather Raknerud from her current contract for conduct unbecoming her positions and failure to perform contracted duties without justification, and that the business manager provide written notice of this action to Heather Raknerud. The board also unanimously voted to suspend you without pay during the period in which a discharge for cause is pursued, Q hear, )3-83-AB3. Laura Dokken, Business Manager DateWinot PUBLIC SCHOOLS To: Heather Raknerud From: Dr. Mark Vollmer, Superintendent Re: Recommendation to Contemplate Discharge Date: March 16, 2023 Mrs. Raknerud, On January 30, 2023, you shared a letter dated January 25, 2023 from Ward County Human Service Zone. The letter notes they received a report of suspected child neglect on November 23, 2022, and it was “confirmed” that inadequate supervision occurred by you and your husband for two minor children. ‘The letter further notes your name will appear on the Child Abuse and Neglect Index. You were hired to be a teacher at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch (the “Ranch”) and have been, a teacher there since you began employment with Minot Public Schools. Neither the School District nor the Ranch were aware you were under investigation for child neglect or that it was “confirmed” until January 30,2023. Upon leaming this, you were placed on paid administrative leave while we gathered more information. Human Resources Director Katy Dahl and I met with you on February 2, 2023 to discuss the allegations. You stated you planned to appeal the decision and shared a copy of your draft appeal. We met again with you and your NDU representative Geolf Greenwood on February 15, 2023. On February 22, 2023, you shared a copy of an updated draft of your appeal, as well as cell phone call logs. During our meetings, you stated you and your husband were the foster parents to two teenagers, ‘one male and one female. You met the teenage female while working at the Ranch, and stated she was the reason you became licensed foster parents. You stated she was not your student at the time, but you knew her through the Ranch, ‘The Ward County Human Service Zone letter notes the children were allowed to sleep in the same room and have sexual relations which resulted in a pregnancy, that you had bought condoms and Plan B pills for the children, that the male child had stolen your medication and you did not report it, and that you knew about and continued to allow the children to use marijuana. It further states you did not disclose many concerning occurrences to case management and did not intervene or confront the children on their actions/behaviors to potentially mitigate continued poor choices and issues. The letter notes a decision that Inadequate Supervision occurred, which is defined as “A child being placed in a situation thatrequires actions beyond the child’s level of maturity, physical ability, or mental ability or a caregiver failing to arrange safe substitute care of a child. The ultimate responsibility for the safety, care, well-being, and behavior for children remains with the parent or caregiver, whether they are present to personally supervise them or not.” In our conversations with you and in your draft appeals, you admitted to some of the allegations in the January 25 letter but discussed your rationale, and denied some of the other allegations. For example, you admitted that you left the children unattended in a hotel room away from the ‘wedding venue for portions of your wedding after they refused to attend. You initially stated the children were “supervised consistently” by friends during your wedding and while the children ‘were at the hotel, but then also stated the children were supervised within a 30-minute window and sometimes less. When asked to clarify, you stated they were FaceTiming, texting, and calling, and a friend of yours was staying at the hotel on site if they needed anything. You stated it was a blur as to what specifically occurred that day/night of your wedding. You also stated the children were allowed to stay at the hotel during portions of the wedding because they were in a “mental health crisis.” When asked why you left them alone unsupervised for 30 minutes at a time if they were in a crisis, you stated you had a program set up on their phones so if they left the hotel, you'd get a notification. You stated they were both very open with you and were in a better mindset in the hotel versus at the wedding venue, You also stated in your draft rebuttal that one of the children was allowed to come back to the wedding venue when he was “safe.” When asked what you meant by “when he was safe,” you stated when there could be someone with him at the venue and that you and your husband would decide if he was safe at the venue. The other child was left at the hotel during these times, because she refused to return. You stated you would FaceTime her when she was alone at the hotel. When asked who your friends were ‘that were onsite on the hotel when the children were there, you stated they were not comfortable with you sharing their names. We were therefore not able to ask them any questions. When asked why you did not plan to have alternate arrangements made for the children during your wedding, you stated there was no concern beforehand and the children were excited for the event, ‘You also admitted that you allowed the children to sleep in the same room in your house on one occasion after finding out about the pregnancy when the children were up late talking. In your draft appeal, you also admitted to buying Plan B for the female child. You stated you did so after she reported she had been sexually assaulted. When asked if you reported the sexual assault to law enforcement, you stated that actually she never openly said she was sexually assaulted and that she didn’t want to talk anymore ebout it. You said you did contact her social worker, but never reported any sexual assault to law enforcement. In your draft appeal, you state that the child’s case manager was consulted about purchasing Plan B. You also admitted to knowing the children were using marijuana, but stated you did not allow it. You stated you reported it to the social worker, and both children had an addiction to meth, alcohol and prescription drugs before they came to live with you. Thave also received notification from the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, which states:As per our conversation, I am writing to share that Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch has an obligation per our licensure to perform background checks on all employees and individuals who interact with the children within our programs, including contracted employees. These background checks include an annual review of the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry. Ranch policy outlines an expectation that any individual who is involved in an investigation of child abuse or neglect would be expected to disclose that and that during the period of determination, the individual would not be allowed to continue work at the Ranch. Upon confirmation of child abuse or neglect, the individual would no longer be eligible to work at the Ranch. On January 30, the Ranch became aware that a Minot Public Schools Teacher, Heather Fritch, who is contracted to perform teaching duties at the Ranch received a letter of “confirmed” child neglect by the Ward County Human Services Zone. While we are aware that Ms, Fritch has made efforts to appeal the decision of the Ward County Human Service Zone, we are unable to allow her to resume her duties at the Ranch unless or until the decision is reversed. We have appreciated the services that Ms. Fritch has provided; however, we have an obligation to comply with our licensure requirements and prioritize the safety of our children. Again, should the confirmation of child neglect be successfully appealed, we would welcome Ms. Fritch back at the Ranch, but cannot do so until that time. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or need any additional information. There are no other current open teachcr positions in the Minot School District for which you are qualified, and you are not allowed to return to the Ranch unless and until the confirmation of child neglect is successfully appealed. I have visited with Kristi Frederick, Director at Ward County Human Service Zone. She stated the appeals process can take months or even a year to complete, Ultimately, there is a confirmed decision of child neglect against you. You are not able to return to your position. And during our investigation, you did admit to several of the factual findings against you, even though you tried to rationalize them. It is my intent to recommend the School Board vote to contemplate your discharge for conduct unbecoming a teacher and failure to perform contracted duties without justification. This recommendation, by law, will need to be made at an open, public meeting and you will need to be named. If the Board ultimately discharges you, we are required to report your discharge to the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. However, if I receive a satisfactory resignation letter from you by 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, I will instead recommend that the Board accept your resignation and waive any liquidated damages for you breaking your contract mid-year. I have included a proposed resignation letter for your consideration.ally [uuosi9g — “99 (uoneu8saz pasodoxd) amsojoug ee quepusyuyredng ‘souNyoA EIA “IC ee) (Fo Gi) t Fi “suonsonb Aue axvy NOX Ft moUy owt 19] aseaIq teIr inot PUBLIC SCHOOLS To: Heather Rakenrud From: Dr. Mark Vollmer, Superintendent Re: — Paid Administrative Leave Date: January 30, 2023 Mrs. Rakenrud, ‘Todd Kayler, principal, shared documentation you provided him today from Ward County Human Service Zone. The letter notes it was “confirmed” that inadequate supervision occurred by you and your husband for two minor children, The letter further notes your name will appear ‘on the Child Abuse and Neglect Index. Effective immediately, you are being placed on paid administrative leave while we gather more information. During leave, you must be available during normal working hours in the event we have questions for you. While on leave, you will not have access to any District property including keys to the buildings and your District-issued laptop. Mast bre. Dr. Mark Vollmer Superintendent cc. Personnel File