Reports were presented by:
Derek Abrahams – Fall Sports Update
(Matthew Lemke entered the meeting at 5:42 pm)
Jon Steinbrenner – Elementary Principal (Lincoln)
Tindy Rund – Elementary Principal (Cleveland)
Ivan Hirst - Middle School Principal
Mark Anderson - High School Principal
Jeff Drake - Superintendent
General Consent Items
The following consent agenda was presented for approval:
Minutes from the regular School Board meeting held on November 12, 2024
Bills (November 12 - 25, 2024)
Personnel:
Support Staff Hires:
Rebecca Forster, special education paraprofessional @ Adams; effective 12/02/2024
Danielle Thompson, special education paraprofessional @ Lincoln; effective 12/02/2024
Alicia Trakas, non-public school registered nurse; effective 11/25/2024
Avery Albertson, COTA substitute; 1 day/week; effective 12/13/2024-2/28/2025
Kaitlyn Moxness, COTA substitute; 1 day/week; effective 12/11/2024-2/26/2025
Support Staff Termination:
Carl Ibarra-night custodian @ KSS/REC, effective 11/14/2024
Melanie Cole moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.
Old Business:
None.
New Business:
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the 2023-2024 Fergus Falls Public Schools World’s Best Workforce Report. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
2. Matthew Lemke offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COMBINED POLLING PLACES FOR MULTIPLE PRECINCTS AND DESIGNATING HOURS DURING WHICH THE POLLING PLACES WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR VOTING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS NOT HELD ON THE DAY OF A STATEWIDE ELECTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 0544, State of Minnesota, as follows:
1. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the precincts and polling places for school district elections are those precincts or parts of precincts located within the boundaries of the school district which have been established by the cities or towns located in whole or in part within the school district. The board hereby confirms those precincts and polling places so established by those municipalities.
2. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the board may establish a combined polling place for several precincts for school district elections not held on the day of a statewide election. Each combined polling place must be a polling place that has been designated by a county or municipality. The following combined polling places are established to serve the precincts specified for all school district special and general elections not held on the same day as a statewide election:
Combined Polling Place 1: Fergus Falls Public Library–Community Room, 205 Hampden Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN
This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 544 located in the City of Fergus Falls, Ward 1, Precincts 1 and 2, City of Dalton, Dane Prairie Township and Tumuli Township; Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Combined Polling Place 2: YMCA–Community Room, 1164 Friberg Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN
This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 544 located in the City of Fergus Falls, Ward 2, Precincts 1 & 2, Aurdal Township, Friberg Township, Maine Township and Sverdrup Township; Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Combined Polling Place 3: MN State Community & Technical College, 1414 College Way, Fergus Falls, MN
This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 544 located in the City of Fergus Falls, Ward 3, Precincts 1 and 2, Carlisle Township, Elizabeth Township, City of Elizabeth, Fergus Falls Township, Oscar Township; Otter Tail County, Minnesota - and Akron Township; Wilkin County, Minnesota.
Combined Polling Place 4: Bigwood Event Center, 925 Western Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN
This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 544 located in the City of Fergus Falls, Ward 4, Precincts 1 and 2, Aastad Township, Buse Township, Orwell Township and Western Township; Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
3. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.09, the polling places will remain open for voting for school district elections not held on the same day as a statewide election between the hours of 7:00 o'clock a.m. and 8:00 o'clock p.m.
4. The clerk is directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the county auditors of each of the counties in which the school district is located, in whole or in part, within thirty (30) days after its adoption.
5. As required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 204B.16, Subdivision 1a, the clerk is hereby authorized and directed to give written notice of new polling place locations to each affected household with at least one registered voter in the school district whose school district polling place location has been changed. The notice must be a non forwardable notice mailed at least twenty-five (25) days before the date of the first election to which it will apply. A notice that is returned as undeliverable must be forwarded immediately to the appropriate county auditor, who shall change the registrant’s status to “challenged” in the statewide registration system.
The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa;
and the following voted against same:
None.
Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.
3. Melanie Cole offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION AND DIRECTING SCHOOL DISTRICT CLERK TO PERFORM OTHER ELECTION RELATED DUTIES
WHEREAS, the board has canvassed the general election for school board members held on November 12th, 2024.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 544, State of Minnesota, as follows:
1. The chair and clerk are hereby authorized to execute certificates of election on behalf of the school board of Independent School District No.544 to the following candidates:
a. Kelli Graff
b. Stephen Vigesaa
c. Jeney Christensen
who have received a sufficiently large number of votes to be elected to fill vacancies on the board caused by expiration of term on the first Monday in January next following the election, based on the results of the canvass.
2. The certificate of election shall be in substantially the form attached hereto.
3. After the time for contesting the election has passed and the candidate has filed all campaign financial reports required by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 211A, the clerk of the school board is hereby directed to deliver the certificates to the persons entitled thereto personally or by certified mail.
4. The clerk is hereby directed to enclose with the certificate a form of acceptance of office and oath of office in substantially the form attached hereto
The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa;
and the following voted against same:
None.
Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.
4. Kirby Anderson offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION OF GOVERNING BOARD SUPPORTING FORM A APPLICATION TO MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE FOUNDATION
WHEREAS, the Minnesota State High School League Foundation was formed to provide support for Minnesota’s high school youth to participate in athletics and fine arts;
WHEREAS, the Governing Board of ISD 544 recognizes the value of student participation in extracurricular activities; and
WHEREAS, the MSHSL Foundation is offering grants and funding to assist schools in recognizing, promoting and funding extracurricular participation by high school students in athletic and fine arts programs.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Governing Board of ISD 544 supports the school’s application to the Minnesota State High School League Foundation for a FORM A grant to offset student activity fees.
The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa;
and the following voted against same:
None.
Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.
5. Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve revisions to current School Board Policy #606.5 Library Materials.
The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
6. Melanie Cole moved to approve the following 2025-26 High School Course Proposals:
Renaming Existing Courses: Tenor Bass Choir I & Tenor Bass Choir II (music); Otter Philharmonic (music); Intro To Foods (FCS)
Replacing Advanced Studio Pottery with Independent Study Ceramics (art)
New Courses: Laboratory Procedures (science); College Medical Terminology (CNA); Independent Study: Officiating (HS Office)
The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 5:15 pm Monday, December 9, 2024 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School, which will include public meetings for the Technology Plan & Internet Safety Policy and the Fergus Falls Public Schools Taxes Payable 2025 (beginning at 6 pm).
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:44 pm. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.
A work session followed the regular board meeting that included discussion on scheduling a special board meeting to approve board bills (7:30 am, Monday, December 30, 2024), curriculum/program options and facilities.