VIRGINIA — The federal district court of Minnesota has dismissed a lawsuit by a former Rock Ridge School Board member against the district and the board chair for a second time.
The order filed Monday, March 16, said Pollyann Sorcan failed to state a First Amendment retaliation claim in her 2023 suit. She filed the action after board members censured and removed her from committee assignments, and she was excluded from attending committee meetings after her removal.
Sorcan argued the action was in retaliation to her engaging in protected speech.
In Monday’s order, Judge John R. Tunheim opined that removal from committees is among the most common forms of internal discipline used by political bodies. Tunheim wrote that Sorcan’s committee removals did not prevent her from performing her duties or deprive her of any privilege, since the committees are purely advisory.
As for barring her attendance from committee meetings, the court did agree this was an adverse action against Sorcan, as a member of the public looking to attend a public meeting. But according to the order, her complaint failed to show this move was retaliatory.
The lawsuit was already dismissed once, but last year, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back after determining the former board chair named in the suit did not enjoy individual legislative immunity.
The Rock Ridge School Board separately removed Sorcan from office in 2024, after she attempted to help others overturn Board decisions and violated data privacy rules.
She unsuccessfully ran to fill that seat again in the subsequent special election.
-
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies heard public witness testimony from American Indian and Alaska Native leaders. -
Charlie Mitchell/KAXERadovich will serve the Council as the forest products industry representative. The 17-member body aims to coordinate diverse forest interests in managing the state's timber stands. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEBemidji Public Library will shift from being open six days a week to four, as well as reduce its staff by two employees. -
Contributed/AFSCME Council 65 via FacebookThe district will provide an agreement to union leadership by March 23, 2026, and the School Board will vote to ratify the contract at its meeting March 30. -
Plus: Blackduck considers disbanding its police force; spongy moth treatments are proposed in parts of Northern Minnesota; and the Detroit Lakes HS musicians have returned from their unexpected road trip. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Blackduck Police Department has a budget for a full-time chief and a full-time patrol officer, but lately, the positions have been filled part-time by Beltrami County deputies. -
Contributed/Carlton CountyManagement would occur by using a mating disruption product that stops males from finding females. A virtual informational public meeting will be 6-7 p.m. March 24, 2026. -
Contributed/Minnesota StateJessalyn Sabin currently serves as the academic dean for career and technical education and the campus director at the Eveleth campus, positions she has held since 2021. -
Contributed/AFSCME Council 65 via FacebookThe strike will begin March 24, 2026, unless the School Board votes on a tentative agreement on March 23, as the union says the two sides agreed.
-
Lorie ShaullThese include bills related to small resorts, wine transfers, special liquor laws in Brainerd and Baudette, and happy hours at assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
