The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center. Chair Melanie Cole called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes, and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent and Renae Macheledt, Finance Director were also present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.

Melanie Cole offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

• Thank you to Otter Elementary PTO for their classroom donations to the teachers at Lincoln School

• Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Fergus Falls for their donation to the upcoming music trip at Kennedy Secondary School

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.

PUBLIC MEETING:

A public meeting regarding the 2026 Technology Plan and Internet Safety Policy began at 5:18 pm in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center. Superintendent Jeff Drake presented information regarding regulations and compliance.

Reports were presented by:

• Jeff Drake - Superintendent

• Doug Anderson – Facilities Supervisor

• Ed Shea – Mechanical Supervisor

• Kirby Anderson – 544 Education Foundation, Finance

• Jeney Christensen – Activities

• Melanie Cole – Region I, Meet & Confer

• Kelli Graff – MSHSL, Staff Development, Wellness

• Missy Hermes – Curriculum Review, Policy

• Stephen Vigesaa – Building/Grounds

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval:

1. Minutes from the November 24, 2025 regular School Board meeting

2. Bills and Treasurer’s Report - reviewed by Jeney Christensen:

1. Personnel

Overload Contracts:

• Jamie Lill, .0303 FTE overload contract for DAPE, 1st trimester

Support Staff Hire:

• Mara Pausch, behavioral specialist @ elementary schools, effective 01/05/2026

Support Staff Separation:

• Chastity Pourrier, special education paraprofessional @ Lincoln, effective 11/24/2025

Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.

Unfinished Business:

1. Second Reading of School Board Policies:

• Policy #411: Minnesota Paid Leave Policy

• Policy #305: Policy Implementation

• Policy #306: Administrator Code Of Ethics

Missy Hermes moved to adopt the policies. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.

New Business:

1. Jeney Christensen moved to approve the Lakeland Mental Health Center Agreements with ISD #544 – effective 01/01/2026 - 12/31/2026

• School Based Mental Health Practitioner: Lincoln School, 1 part time provider (1160 hours)

• School Based Mental Health Practitioner: Elementary Schools, 2 full time providers

• School Based Mental Health Practitioner: Elementary Schools, 1 full time provider

• School Based Mental Health/ Chemical Health Practitioner: Senior High and Middle School, 1 full time provider

• School Based Mental Health Professional: Senior High and Middle School, 1 full time provider

The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

1. Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the Agreement with Lakes Country Service Cooperative in the amount of $35,463 for Direct Mental Health Support to Students – effective 07/01/2025 - 6/30/2026. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

2. Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to recess the meeting from 5:50pm to 6:00pm. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.

3. Kirby Anderson made a motion to reopen the meeting at 6:00pm. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.

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A public meeting of the Fergus Falls Public Schools’ Taxes Payable 2026 was held at 6:00 pm in the Otter Community Room at Kennedy Secondary School. Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, presented a

report to the School Board and community.

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1. Kirby Anderson moved to approve the Levy for Taxes Payable 2026 in the amount of $7,948,825.97. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.

The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:30 am Monday, December 22, 2025 in the Otter Community Room at Kennedy Secondary School.

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 pm. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

A work session followed the regular board meeting to discuss a request for proposal for naming rights for the Otter Stadium field and an administrative assistant.