Reports were presented by:
Jon Steinbrenner – Elementary Principal (Lincoln)
Scott Colbeck – Elementary Principal (Adams/McKinley)
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 September 14, 2026 regular board meeting
Bills (September 15 - 28, 2026) reviewed by Stephen Vigesaa and Jeney Christensen
Personnel
Certified Staff Hire:
Drew Smith, long term substitute teacher float 1 FTE @ Adams & McKinley, effective 8/24/2026
Kari Tollerson, long term substitute teacher .3361 FTE @ Lincoln, effective 9/23/2026
Support Staff Hire:
Lisa vonLorenz, noon hour supervisor @ Cleveland, effective 09/29/2026
Olivia Lape, special education paraprofessional @ Adams, effective 10/02/2026
Amanda Easton, special education paraprofessional @ Kennedy/MS and Lincoln, effective 10/05/2026
Support Staff Separations:
Destiny Erickson, special education paraprofessional @ McKinley, effective 09/24/2026
Shaylee Brown, special education paraprofessional @ Lincoln, effective 10/28/2026
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
Unfinished Business:
None
New Business:
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the 2026-27 Employee Handbook. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the 2026-2027 Fundraiser Requests. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the Fergus Falls Community Arena User Agreement and Exhibit A Season: Oct. 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
Stephen Vigesaa offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
Resolution for Proposed Levy for Taxes Payable 2027 (Set at Maximum Amount)
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 544, State of Minnesota, as follows:
The Board shall certify its proposed property tax levy information to the county auditor on or before September 30 of each year, unless an extension is granted by the home county auditor.
Pursuant to Minnesota Statute 275.065, the School Board is authorized to certify the maximum levy limitation as certified by the commissioner of education for property taxes payable in 2027.
The Public information meeting (Truth in Taxation Hearing) regarding proposed property taxes and the budget is scheduled for 6 PM on Monday, December 14, 2026, in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center (during School Board meeting).
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, 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 5:15 pm Monday, October 12, 2026 in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center.
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:17pm. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
A work session followed the board meeting to discuss MSBA Training.