Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.
Reports were presented by:
Amelia Lemar - Curriculum Director
Ed Shea - Mechanical Supervisor
Kirby Anderson – 544 Education Foundation, Finance
Jeney Christensen – MSHSL, Activities
Melanie Cole – Region I, Meet & Confer
Kelli Graff – Staff Development, Wellness
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 April 28, 2025 regular School Board meeting
Bills and Treasurer’s Report - reviewed by Jeney Christensen and Melanie Cole:
General Fund
$2,352,747.29
Food Service
$113,164.55
Community Ed
$110,248.57
Construction
$3,220.00
Debt Service
$0
Trust
$1,694.51
Activities
$24,277.38
TOTAL
$2,605,352.30
Personnel
2025-2026 Certified Staff Hires - effective 08/25/25:
Charon Doyscher, special education teacher 1 FTE @ iQ
Brady Tostenson, special education teacher 1 FTE @ Kennedy Secondary School/High School
Kailey Graff, elementary teacher 1 FTE @ McKinley School
Ashton Fuhs, elementary teacher .8333 FTE @ iQ
Renee Russell, special education teacher 1 FTE @ iQ
Certified Staff Resignations:
Judah Burlingame, social studies teacher @ ALC, last work day 06/03/2025
Sara Delaney, art teacher @ Kennedy Secondary School/High School, last work day 06/03/2025
Support Staff Resignation:
Stephanie Lunde, student support @ Cleveland, last work day 05/13/2025
Support Staff Retirement:
Rebecca Thole, ECE/preschool classroom assistant @ Lincoln; last work day 05/15/2025
Daniel Hanson, Custodial Mechanical Assistant @ Kennedy Secondary School, last work day 05/30/2025
Coach Hire:
Paul Hicks, Head Girls Soccer Coach; effective 08/11/2025
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Missy Hermes moved to approve the Social Studies curriculum for the 2025/26 school year. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the Spring 2025 Memorandum of Agreement outlining the fee structure for the College in the High School program at the University of Minnesota Crookston. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve one float day for certified staff to fulfill contractual obligations; to be completed by June 13, 2025. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff. Kirby Anderson, Kelli Graff, Jeney Christensen, Missy Hermes and Stephen Vigesaa voted in favor thereof; Melanie Cole voted against same. The motion carried.
Jeney Christensen moved to approve a Teacher of the Deaf / Hard of Hearing Agreement for .20 FTE between Fergus Falls School District / ISD #544 and River Bend Education District #6049; effective 8/25/2025-06/1/2026. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
Missy Hermes moved to approve the additional .6875 FTE Night Custodian Position (Roosevelt); effective 06/2025. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.
Missy Hermes moved to approve the Purchase of Service Agreement for the Transportation of Children & Youth in Foster Care Placement effective 7/01/2025-6/30/2026 The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Resolution to accept public donations for the continuance of the 5th grade band for the 2025/26 school year.
Sufficient designated funds to cover the $50,000 cost of the position must be received by the district no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30th. If donated funds are insufficient to continue the 5th grade band position, then the monies donated will be appropriated towards other needs benefitting the band program. No refunds will be issued.
Stephen Vigesaa offered the resolution and moved for its adoption. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kelli Graff and Stephen Vigesaa;
and the following voted against same: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes.
Whereupon said motion was declared failed and the resolution was not adopted.
RESOLUTION ON THE RETIREMENT OF Rebecca Thole
WHEREAS Rebecca Thole began her employment with the Fergus Falls Public Schools in August 2019, and
WHEREAS Rebecca has been a valued employee with the Fergus Falls Public Schools for the past 6 years, and
WHEREAS Rebecca has been a dedicated ECFE/preschool assistant for the district and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Fergus Falls School Board to thank Rebecca for her 6 years of service to the Fergus Falls Public Schools.
Melanie Cole offered the resolution and moved for its adoption. 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, 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.
RESOLUTION ON THE RETIREMENT OF Daniel Hanson
WHEREAS Daniel Hanson began his employment with the Fergus Falls Public Schools in December 1997, and
WHEREAS Daniel has been a valued employee with the Fergus Falls Public Schools for the past 28 years, and
WHEREAS Daniel has been a dedicated Assistant to the Mechanical Supervisor for the district and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Fergus Falls School Board to thank Daniel for his 28 years of service to the Fergus Falls Public Schools.
Stephen Vigesaa offered the resolution and moved for its adoption. 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 7:15 am Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School. Please note change to Tuesday due to the Memorial Day holiday, and in time and location for summer.
Kirby Anderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:16 pm. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
A work session followed the regular board meeting and discussed the REACH program, 2026 graduation date and Otter Pride Night.