Individual Contracts effective 2026-27
Berkley Pajari, American Indian Program Coordinator, including grade level increase from grade 6 to grade 8
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Unfinished Business:
none
New Business:
Missy Hermes moved to table the motion approving the School Resource Officer (SRO) Services Agreement; effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. According to Policy 507.5 School Resource Officers are required to take SRO training which needs to be addressed in the contract. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the Food Service Staffing adjustments:
Internally post an additional 1 FTE Cook/Server (JD #702) @ Kennedy
Combine JD 707 & 710, titled Food Service Computer Operator/Asst Cook JD #710, 5.75 hours/day @ Kennedy to be posted internally
The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
Missy Hermes moved to approve the Revisions to current School Board Policies:
Policy #509: Enrollment of Nonresident Students
Policy #521: Student Disability Nondiscrimination
Policy #524: Internet, Technology, and Cell Phone Acceptable Use and Safety Policy
Policy #613: Graduation Requirements
Policy #621: Literacy and the Read Act
Policy #709: Student Transportation Safety Policy
Policy #721: Procurement Policy
Policy #722: Public Data and Data Subject Requests
The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the additional .1667 FTE Band Teacher @ Kennedy/MS effective 2026-27 School year.
Kaele Peterson, music teacher contract increase from .3333 FTE to .5 FTE @ KSS/MS and Cleveland, effective 08/24/2026
The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.
Kelli Graff offered a resolution to adopt the Fiscal Year (FY) 28 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 FY28 on the 27th day of July, 2026.
The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff 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.
Melanie Cole offered a Resolution of Intent to Issue General Obligation Facilities Maintenance Bonds, Series 2027A, in the Maximum Aggregate Principal Amount of $7,575,000
WHEREAS, the District is authorized under the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 475, as amended (the “Act”), and Minnesota Statutes, Section 123B.595, as amended (“Section 123B.595”), to issue general obligation facilities maintenance bonds for the purpose of financing certain facilities and site maintenance projects approved by the Commissioner of Education (the “Commissioner”).
WHEREAS, the Board hereby finds and determines that it is necessary and expedient to the sound financial management of the affairs of the District to issue its General Obligation Facilities Maintenance Bonds, Series 2027A (the “Bonds”), in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $7,575,000, pursuant to the Act and Section 123B.595 to finance the costs of certain facilities and site maintenance projects of the District (the “Project”) which are included in the District’s ten-year facilities plan for Fiscal Year 2028 (the “Plan”) and related financing costs.
WHEREAS, the Board hereby approves the Plan, which is incorporated in this Resolution as though fully specified herein, and authorizes and directs District staff and officials to submit the Plan to the Commissioner for approval, as well as any amendments to the Plan and the proposed issuance of the Bonds, as required by the Act and Section 123B.595. District staff and officials are further authorized and directed to submit to the Commissioner such additional information as may be necessary to secure such approval.
WHEREAS, the District may incur certain expenditures that may be financed temporarily from sources other than the Bonds and reimbursed from the proceeds of the Bonds. Treasury Regulation § 1.150-2 (the “Reimbursement Regulations”) provides that proceeds of tax-exempt bonds allocated to reimburse expenditures originally paid from a source other than the tax-exempt bonds will not be deemed expended unless certain requirements are met.
WHEREAS, the above is a summary of the resolution, of which a full and complete copy is hereby included in the agenda packet.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 (Fergus Falls Public Schools), Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties, Minnesota (the “District”), approves and adopts the Resolution of Intent to Issue General Obligation Facilities Maintenance Bonds, Series 2027A, in the Maximum Aggregate Principal Amount of $7,575,000.
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.
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve setting the FY27 Fergus Falls Public Schools’ Meal Rates:
Student Regular Breakfast K-12: Free
Adult Breakfast: $2.65 old rate (new rates not yet available from MDE)
Student Regular Lunch K-12: Free
Adult Lunch: $5.05 old rate (new rates not yet available from MDE)
A la carte entrée: $3.40 (was $3.25)
Milk Only: 50¢ (was 45¢)
If a student wishes to purchase a second meal, it will be charged at the adult meal rate.
The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen. Following discussion on the cost of milk as an a la carte option for school meals, the motion carried unanimously.
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the 2026-27 District Goals. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the 2026-27 Consortium Agreement for Cross-District High School Course Access. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:15 am Monday, August 10, 2026 in the Otter Community Room at Kennedy School.
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:39 am. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.