Reports were presented by:
Nancy Reard – Special Ed Director
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 March 24, 2025 regular School Board meeting
Bills and Treasurer’s Report - reviewed by Jeney Christensen and Missy Hermes:
General Fund
$2,134,742.42
Food Service
$85,150.75
Community Education
$13,733.81
Construction
$28,333.26
Debt Service
$500.00
Trust
$35.80
Activities
$33,628.25
TOTAL
$2,296,124.29
Personnel
Certified Staff Retirements:
Carrie Christenson, special education teacher @ Kennedy Secondary School; effective end of 2024-25 school year
Keith Pearson, science teacher @ Kennedy Secondary School; effective end of 2024-25 school year
Jacqueline Ness-Ludwig, art teacher @ Kennedy Secondary School, Middle School, and ALC, effective end of 2024-25 school year
Certified Staff Resignations:
- Chloe Nelson, language arts teacher @ Kennedy Secondary School/Middle School; effective end of 2024-25 school year
- Jacob Zacha, social studies teacher @ Kennedy Secondary School/Middle School; effective end of 2024-25 school year
- Ryan Beherns, special education teacher @ Kennedy Secondary School/High School; effective end of 2024-25 school year
- Ellie Rutten, elementary teacher @ McKinley School
2024-25 Certified Staff Overloads:
Rebecca Wynn, special education teacher; .0833 overload for 3rd trimester (.0282 FTE total)
Beth Skaret, special education teacher; .0833 overload for 3rd trimester (.0282 FTE total)
2024-25 Certified Staff Hire:
Laurie McNallie, iQ FACS teacher-contract increase of .0811 FTE (.7022 total FTE); effective second semester (1/20/2025-6/2/2025)
2025-26 Certified Staff Hires - Effective August 25, 2025:
Jessica Radzwill, language arts teacher (1 FTE) @ Kennedy Secondary School/High School
Emily Arens, science teacher (1 FTE) @ Kennedy Secondary School/High School
Nathan Arens, social studies teacher (1 FTE) @ Kennedy Secondary School/Middle School
Veda Barrett, special education teacher (1 FTE) @ Kennedy Secondary School/High School
Certified Staff: Rescind Contract Rights
Laurie McNallie, iQ FACS teacher; rescind contracts rights of .3333 FTE for the 2025-26 school year
Support Staff Resignations:
Roberta Schake, HR/payroll specialist @ District Office; effective April 17, 2025
Alayna Price, Noon Hour Supervisor @ Cleveland; effective April 23, 2025
Dakota Halderson, custodian @ KSS; effective April 10, 2025
Laura Chock, special education paraprofessional; last work day - April 25, 2025
Support Staff Hires:
Zachary Lewis, special education paraprofessional @ Cleveland; effective April 1, 2025
Trista Tostenson, special education paraprofessional @ McKinley; effective April 9, 2025
Notice of Desire to Negotiate from the Fergus Falls Education Association EM-NEA-AFT-AFL-CIO Local #7086
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Missy Hermes moved to approve a one-year certified staff leave of absence request from Troy Lee, math teacher for the 2025-26 school year on the condition that a qualified candidate be found by May 16, 2025. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.
Kirby Anderson offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION DISCONTINUING AND REDUCING EDUCATIONAL POSITIONS AND
PROGRAMS
WHEREAS, the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 adopted a resolution on January 27, 2025, directing the administration to make recommendations for reductions in programs and positions, and
WHEREAS, said recommendations have been received and considered by the School Board,
BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 544, as follows:
That the following programs and positions, or portions thereof, be discontinued (Districtwide, including iQ Academy):
Certified Staff Positions:
Art/FCS - .1667 FTE
Auto - .1667 FTE
Business - .125 FTE
Elementary - 1.4 FTE
Physical Education - 1 FTE
Language Arts - .25 FTE
Music - .7070 FTE
Math - .1667 FTE
REACH - .25 FTE
Science - .0833 FTE
World Language - .1667 FTE
Certified iQ Academy Positions:
Art - .4167 FTE
Business - .5 FTE
Elementary - .7824
FCS - .3333 FTE
Health - .1667 FTE
Math - .3333 FTE
PE - .1667 FTE
Special Education - 1.443 FTE
Support Staff Positions:
Special Education Paraprofessionals - 5.1923 FTEs
Night Lead Custodian - 1 FTE
HR/Payroll Specialist - 1 FTE
Para Educator .75 FTE
Student Services Coordinator - .125 FTE
The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes. After board discussion, Missy Hermes made a motion to Call the Question. Kirby Anderson seconded the motion and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, and Missy Hermes. Kelli Graff and Stephen Vigesaa voted against the same.
Kelli Graff made a motion to remove music from the list of reductions in programs and positions. The following voted in favor thereof: Stephen Vigesaa and Kelli Graff. Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, and Missy Hermes voted against the same.
Whereupon said the motion was declared duly passed and the original resolution adopted.
Kirby Anderson offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION ON THE RETIREMENT OF CARRIE CHRISTENSON
WHEREAS Carrie began her employment with the Fergus Falls Public Schools in August 1993, and
WHEREAS Carrie has been a valued employee with the Fergus Falls Public Schools for the past 32 years, and
WHEREAS Carrie has been a dedicated Special Education teacher for the district and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Fergus Falls School Board to thank Carrie for her 32 years of service to the Fergus Falls Public Schools.
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 offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION ON THE RETIREMENT OF KEITH PEARSON
WHEREAS Keith began his employment with the Fergus Falls Public Schools in October 1990, and
WHEREAS Keith has been a valued employee with the Fergus Falls Public Schools for the past 35 years, and
WHEREAS Keith has been a dedicated science teacher for the district and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Fergus Falls School Board to thank Keith for his 35 years of service to the Fergus Falls Public Schools.
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.
Missy Hermes offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION ON THE RETIREMENT OF JACQUELINE NESS-LUDWIG
WHEREAS Jacqueline began her employment with the Fergus Falls Public Schools in August 2018, and
WHEREAS Jacqueline has been a valued employee with the Fergus Falls Public Schools for the past 7 years, and
WHEREAS Jacqueline has been a dedicated art teacher for the district and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Fergus Falls School Board to thank Jacqueline for her 7 years of service to the Fergus Falls Public Schools.
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.
Kirby Anderson moved to approve revisions to the 2024-25 School District Calendar (Due to snow days on April 2, 2025 and April 3, 2025)
May 29, 2025: Regular school day
May 30, 2025: 3-hour early out for students and the last day of school
June 2, 2025: Staff work day; no students
June 3, 2025: Staff Development Day (certified staff)
The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried.
Melanie Cole moved to approve the 2025-2026 iQ Academy Calendar. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.
The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 5:15 pm Monday, April 28, 2025 in the Community Education Room, Roosevelt Education Center.
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:37 pm. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.
A work session followed the regular board meeting discussing open lunch, a board development opportunity with MSBA and Policy 902 - Use of School Facilities & Grounds by Community Groups/ Individuals.
_________________________________________
Melissa Hermes, Clerk
_________________________________________
Approval Date