Matthew Lemke entered the meeting at 5:36 pm.

Melanie Cole entered the meeting at 5:54 pm.

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.

Melanie Cole offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

Thank you to:

• Kay Tommerdahl for donating a practice drum set to the Band Department at KSS.

• Fergus Falls Rotary Club for donating to the 2nd grade reading program at McKinley school.

• Otter Elementary PTO for donating a bluetooth speaker for JAWS at McKinley school.

The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: 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.

Reports were presented by:

• Melanie Cole – Region I, Meet & Confer

• Missy Hermes – Policy

• Natalie Knutson – Wellness, Buildings & Grounds, Policy

• Matthew Lemke – MSHSL, Finance Committee

• Stephen Vigesaa – Curriculum Review, Staff Development

• Jeff Drake – Superintendent

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval:

1. Minutes from the October 28, 2024 regular School Board meeting

   
   

2. Bills and Treasurer’s Report - reviewed by Stephen Vigesaa and Matthew Lemke:

Personnel

Certified Staff Hires:

Anne Hintz, music teacher @ KSS; contract increase of .0713 FTE (.3380 FTE total); effective 11/4/2024

Laurie McNallie, FCS teacher @ iQ; contract increase of .1211 FTE (.6211 FTE total); effective 11/4/2024

Kathleen Rittenour, world language/culture teacher (long-term substitute) @ iQ (.1211 FTE); effective 11/4/2024

Jennifer Peterson, elementary teacher @ iQ; contract increase of .1166 FTE (.7578 FTE total); effective 11/11/2024

Support Staff Resignations:

Sally Carlson-Corbett; Non-Public School RN; effective 11/12/2024

Carrie Wynn, special ed paraprofessional @ Lincoln; effective 11/5/2024

Support Staff Termination:

Kiera Cox; special ed paraprofessional @ KSS/HS, effective 11/4/2024

Support Staff Hires:

1. Vanessa Trosdahl, special ed paraprofessional @ KSS/MS; effective 11/11/2024

2. Alicia Easton; special ed paraprofessional @ Cleveland; effective 11/15/2024

3. Nicholas Grant, night custodian @ KSS; effective 11/21/2024

4. Cassie Forster, special education paraprofessional @ KSS - rescinded resignation; effective 11/8/2024

5. Maggie Beving, special education paraprofessional/long-term substitute (3.5 hrs/day) @ Lincoln; effective 11/1/2024-TBD

6. Theresa Herzberg, special education paraprofessional/long-term substitute (6.5 hrs/day) @ KSS; effective 11/4/2024-TBD

   
   

4. Support Staff Pay Grade Changes; effective 2024-25 school year

Secretary Job Description 209-High School Office/Purchasing Assistant: change from grade 5 to grade 6

Secretary Job Description 219-Middle School Office/Purchasing Assistant: change from grade 5 to grade 6

Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.

Old Business:

None

New Business:

1. Missy Hermes offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:

JOINT RESOLUTION WITH FERGUS FALLS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HONORING

VETERANS

Whereas, Independent School District 544 has veterans in its employ who have served in the armed forces, and;

Whereas, the District and Fergus Falls Education Association wish to recognize all those who have given so much for their country;

Be it hereby resolved, that School District 544 and the Fergus Falls Education Association honor and appreciate all veterans for their dedication to our country and service to others.

The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knuston, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa;

and the following voted against same:

None.

Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.

2. Missy Hermes moved to approve the 2025 Orchestra Trip/Grand Forks-Winnipeg (April 4-6, 2025). The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.

3. Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the 2026 Music Trip/Veterans Memorial Parade (March 25 - March 30, 2026). The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried four (4) votes to one (1) vote (Cole).

4. Matthew Lemke moved to table revisions to School Board Policy #606.5 Library Materials. The tabled motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.

5. Melanie Cole moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between ISD #544 and Lakeland Mental Health and Otter Tail County for support in the KSS Wellness Room. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.

6. Matthew Lemke moved to approve the FY24 Fergus Falls Public Schools’ Financial Audit (Eide Bailly, Auditors). The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.

7. Melanie Cole offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:

RESOLUTION CANVASSING RETURNS OF VOTES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION

BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 544, State of Minnesota, as follows:

1. It is hereby found, determined, and declared that the special election of the voters of this School District held on November 5, 2024, was in all respects duly and legally called and held.

2. As specified in the attached Abstract and Return of Votes Cast, at said election a total of 11,450 voters of the School District voted on the question of authorizing the issuance of school building bonds for a school acquisition and betterment program (SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION 1), of which 4,599 voted in favor, 6,304 voted against the same. Said proposition, having not received the approval of at least a majority of such votes, is hereby declared to have failed.

3. As specified in the attached Abstract and Return of Votes Cast, at said election a total of 11,450 voters of the School District voted on the question of authorizing the issuance of school building bonds for a school acquisition and betterment program (SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION 2), of which 4,234 voted in favor, 6,417 voted against the same. The passage of School District Question 2 is contingent upon the passage of School District Question 1. Question 1 having failed and Question 2 having not received the approval of at least a majority of such votes, Question 2 is hereby declared to have failed.

4. The Clerk is hereby directed to certify the results of the election to the county auditors of each county in which the School District is located in whole or in part and to the Commissioner of Education.

The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knuston, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa;

and the following voted against same:

None.

Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.

8. Matthew Lemke offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:

RESOLUTION CANVASSING RETURNS OF VOTES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT GENERAL ELECTION

BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No.544, as follows:

1. It is hereby found, determined and declared that the general election of the voters of the district held on November 5, 2024, was in all respects duly and legally called and held.

2. As specified in the attached Abstract and Return of Votes Cast, a total of 11,450 voters of the district voted at said election on the election of (three) school board members for four year term vacancies on the board caused by expiration of term on the first Monday in January next following the general election as follows:

Zachary Blumberg: 1,456

Kristina Bradley-Khan: 3,004

Jeney Christensen: 3,755

Kristina Glas: 2,904

Kelli Graff: 5,341

Arden Kjono: 872

Tim Nanson: 2,777

Micah Narimani: 2,311

Stephen Vigesaa: 3,817

Write-In 83

3. Kelli Graff, Stephen Vigesaa, and Jeney Christensen, having received the highest number of votes, are elected to four year terms beginning the first Monday in January, 2025.

4. The school district clerk is hereby authorized to certify the results of the election to the county auditor of each county in which the school district is located in whole or in part.

The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knuston, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa;

and the following voted against same:

None.

Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.

The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 5:15 pm Monday, November 25, 2024 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School.

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 pm. The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.

A work session followed the regular board meeting to discuss facilities and personnel.