Reports were presented by:
Derek Abrahams, Activities Director - spring sports/fine arts
Jeff Drake, Superintendent
General Consent Items
The following consent agenda was presented for approval:
Minutes from the regular School Board meeting held on June 9, 2025
Bills (June 10 - 23, 2025)
Personnel
Certified Staff Hires effective 08/25/2025:
Clare Nemec, elementary teacher 1 FTE @ McKinley
Drew Hjelmstad, long term substitute teacher float 1 FTE @ Adams & McKinley - 1 year contract
Support Staff Hires:
Ashley Landbeg, night custodian @ KSS; effective 6/16/2025
Justin Sonmor, assistant mechanical worker @ District Wide/REC; effective 06/16/2025
Individual Contracts between ISD 544 and the following:
Student Services Coordinator (Kidder) effective 08/25/25 through end of 2025-26 school year
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the Agreement with Lakes Country Service Cooperative for ECFE/School Readiness Staffing; effective 7/1/2025 - 6/30/2026. The motion was seconded by Melissa Hermes and carried unanimously.
Melanie Cole moved to approve the annual partnership payment for Otter Tail Family Services Collaborative FY26 for $725. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the 2025-26 Health and Safety Executive Summary of Written Plans. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the ISD 544 FY26 Financial Budget. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
Melissa Hermes offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
WHEREAS, Independent School District #544 has experienced an increase in population from the 2020 census figure of 19,795 to the current census figure of 19,873 as determined by the State Demographer, and
WHEREAS, this population increase will impact the revenue the community education programs receive based on the current funding calculation, which uses the district population to determine total funding,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the census figure of 19,873 be certified to the State Demographer for approval of use in the 2025 payable 2026 revenue calculations.
The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Kelli Graff, and Missy Hermes;
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 14, 2025 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School; followed by a School Board Retreat at the Lincoln School conference room.
Jeney Christensen made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:59 am. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
A work session discussing facilities followed the regular board meeting.