e agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
Melanie Cole offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
Thank you to West Central Initiative for their donation from the Claire Anne Shover Legacy Fund Grant to Lincoln School for an Early Childhood SpEd sensory cube.
The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes 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:
Kirby Anderson – 544 Education Foundation, Finance
Jeney Christensen – MSHSL, Activities
Melanie Cole – Region I, Meet & Confer
Missy Hermes – Curriculum Review, Policy
Stephen Vigesaa – Building/Grounds
Jeff Drake – Superintendent
General Consent Items
The following consent agenda was presented for approval:
Minutes from the June 23, 2025 regular School Board meeting.
Bills and Treasurer’s Report - reviewed by Jeney Christensen:
General Fund
$2,590,515.13
Food Service
$66,330.35
Community Ed
$6,529.58
Construction
$0.00
Debt Service
$1,000.00
Trust
$0.00
Activities
$35,133.10
TOTAL
$2,699,508.16
Personnel
Certified Staff Resignation:
Nicholas Ganoe, Band Teacher @ Kennedy Secondary School effective end of 2024-25 school year
Internal Transfers:
Nick Grant, transfer from night custodian to delivery driver/operator; effective 06/04/2025
Michelle Jerez-Carlson transfer from head secretary to para educator-computer/food service; effective 08/28/2025
Support Staff Hire:
Danielle Farkas, night custodian @ REC, effective 07/10/2025
Michelle Shearer, secretary @ MCK, effective 08/11/2025
Theresa Herzberg, special education paraprofessional, effective 08/27/2025
Madison Holden, special education paraprofessional, effective 08/27/2025
Stephanie Ewert, special education paraprofessional, effective 08/27/2025
Sydney Anderson, special education paraprofessional, effective 08/27/2025
Amari Schroeder, special education paraprofessional, effective 08/27/2025
Robyn Hoeper, special education paraprofessional, effective 08/27/2025
Hannah Ekse, special education paraprofessional, effective 08/27/2025
Robert Schultz, noon hour supervisor @KSS/MS, effective 08/28/2025
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the FY26 Membership with Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) for $2500. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve a wage adjustment for substitute staff positions for Certified Teacher substitutes to $176/day or $88/half day and Support Staff substitutes to $19.25/hour; effective 2025-2026 school year. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Melissa Hermes moved to approve a wage adjustment for non-affiliated support staff (Early Childhood Classroom Assistants, Noon Hour Supervisors, Student Support Aides) to $19.50/hour; effective 2025-2026 school year. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Concurrent Enrollment Program Contract Between ISD 544 and the State of Minnesota; effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
Stephen Vigesaa moved to reject the $900 bid offer received for the sale of the district’s 2001 Chevrolet 2500 HD Truck with Tommy Gate. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve Revisions to current School Board Policies:
Policy #413: Harassment and Violence
Policy #414: Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse
Policy #416: Drug, Alcohol and Cannabis Testing
Policy #418: Drug Free Workplace/Drug Free School
Policy #425: Staff Development and Mentoring
Policy #501: School Weapons Policy
Policy #503: Student Attendance
Policy #512: School-Sponsored Student Publications and Activities
Policy #515: Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records
Policy #516: Student Medication and Telehealth
Policy #516.5: Overdose Medication
Policy #519: Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies
Policy #524: Internet, Technology, and Cell Phone Acceptable Use and Safety
Policy #530: Immunization Requirements
Policy #534: School Meals Policy
Policy #602: Organization of School Calendar and School Day
Policy #606.5: Library Materials
Policy #613: Graduation Requirements
Policy #620: Credit for Learning
Policy #621: Literacy and the Read Act
Policy #624: Online Instruction
Policy #704: Development and Maintenance of an Inventory of Fixed Assets and a Fixed Asset Accounting System
Policy #707: Transportation of Public School Students
Policy #709: Student Transportation Safety Policy
Policy #722: Public Data Requests
Policy #802: Disposition of Obsolete Equipment and Material
Policy #806: Crisis Management
Policy #906: Community Notification of Predatory Offenders
The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
Kirby Anderson offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR (FY) 27 LONG-TERM FACILITIES MAINTENANCE (LTFM) TEN-YEAR PLAN
WHEREAS, to qualify for Long-Term Facilities Maintenance revenue, Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 123B.595, subd. 4 states a school district or intermediate district must annually adopt and approve a ten-year LTFM facilities plan by July 31 for commissioner approval,and
WHEREAS, the school district has developed a ten-year Long-Term Facilities Maintenance plan consistent with this law,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 approves and adopts the attached ten-year Long-Term Facilities Maintenance plan for FY27 on the 14th day of July, 2025.
The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes 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 7:15 am Monday, July 28, 2025 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School.
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 am. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
A School Board Retreat followed the regular board meeting to discuss facilities, finance, policy and strategic planning, along with a policy committee meeting at the Lincoln School/Conference Room.