The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room, Kennedy Secondary School. Chair, Melanie Cole, called the meeting to order at 7:15 am. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole and Missy Hermes. Kelli Graff and Stephen Vigesaa were absent. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, was also present.
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.
Kirby Anderson 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 the following:
Eric and Amanda Magnusson for their generous donation of a 2005 Ford Taurus to the Automotive Program at Kennedy Secondary School
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, and Missy Hermes;
and the following voted against same:
None.
Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.
Reports were presented by:
Jeff Drake, Superintendent
General Consent Items
The following consent agenda was presented for approval:
Minutes from the regular School Board meeting held on June 8, 2026
Bills (June 9 - 22, 2026)
Personnel
Certified Staff Hire:
Aleisha Gardin, speech language pathologist @ Lincoln, effective August 24, 2026
Brandon Lee, special education teacher @ Area Learning Center, effective August 24, 2026
Support Staff Hire:
Karin Tungseth, counseling office assistant/district facilities coordinator @ Kennedy School, effective August 17, 2026
Maggie Tordusson, noon hour supervisor @ Lincoln, effective 09/01/2026
Support Staff Transfer:
Amanda Graves-Felbaum, transfer from noon hour supervisor to ECFE/preschool classroom assistant, effective 08/26/2026
Support Staff Separations:
Abby Dlouhy, server/assistant cook @ Kennedy School, last day worked June 04, 2026
Michelle Peasley, special education paraprofessional @ Lincoln, last day worked May 27, 2026
Coach Separations:
Derek Abrahams, Head Boys Tennis Coach, effective June 08, 2026
Devonie Smith, Head Girls Softball Coach, effective, June 18, 2026
Individual Contracts effective 2026-2027
Behavioral Specialist, Mara Pausch
Individual Contracts effective 2026-2028
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), Jenny Albertson
Facilities Supervisor, Doug Anderson
Mechanical Supervisor, Ed Shea
Secondary School Nurse, Jaine Sem
Technology Specialist, Jesse Thorstad
Technology Specialist, Rhonda Maack
HR/Payroll Specialist, Brenda Harrington
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 approve the Agreement between ISD #544 and Education Minnesota Fergus Falls Special Education Paraprofessional Association for 2026-28. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Kirby Anderson moved to approve the FY27 Membership with Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA); $2500. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
Jeney Christensen moved to approve the 2026-27 Health and Safety Executive Summary of Written Plans. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Melanie Cole offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:
Resolution Establishing Dates for Filing Affidavits of Candidacy
WHEREAS Minnesota Statutes, section 205A.06 establishes the processes regarding affidavits of candidacy for election to a school board, including the requirement for publishing notice of the first and last dates on which affidavits of candidacy may be filed.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 544, (Fergus Falls Public School) State of Minnesota, as follows:
The period for filing affidavits of candidacy for the office of school board member of Independent School District No. 544 shall begin on July 14, 2026 and shall close on July 28, 2026. An affidavit of candidacy must be filed in the office of the school district clerk and the $2 filing fee paid prior to 5:00 o’clock p.m. on July 28, 2026.
The clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of said filing dates to be published in the official newspaper of the district, at least two (2) weeks prior to the first day to file affidavits of candidacy.
The clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of said filing dates to be posted at the administrative offices of the school district at least ten (10) days prior to the first day to file affidavits of candidacy.
The notice of said filing dates shall be in substantially the following form:
NOTICE OF FILING DATES FOR ELECTION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 544
FERGUS FALLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
STATE OF MINNESOTA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the period for filing affidavits of candidacy for the office of school board member of Independent School District No. 544 shall begin on July 14, 2026, and shall close at 5:00 o’clock p.m. on July 28, 2026.
The general election shall be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. At that election, (3) members will be elected to the School Board for terms of four (4) years each.
Affidavits of Candidacy are available from the school district clerk at 601 Randolph Ave, Fergus Falls, MN. The filing fee for this office is $2. A candidate for this office must be an eligible voter, must be 21 years of age or more or will be upon assuming office, will have maintained residence in the school district from which the candidate seeks election for thirty (30) days before the general election, and must have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the same primary or next ensuing general election, except as authorized by Minnesota Statutes, section 204B.06, subdivision 9.
The affidavits of candidacy must be filed in the office of the school district clerk and the filing fee paid prior to 5:00 o’clock p.m. on July 28, 2026.
Whereupon, said Resolution was declared duly adopted by Independent School District No. 544,
(Fergus Falls Public Schools), State of Minnesota, this 22 day of June, 2026
BY ORDER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
/s/ Missy Hermes, School District Clerk
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, and Missy Hermes;
and the following voted against same:
None.
Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.
First Reading of New School Board Policies:
Policy 524.5 - PERSONAL ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES
Policy 534.5 - STUDENT SNACK GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS
The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:15 am Monday, July 13, 2026 in the Otter Community Room at Kennedy Secondary School; followed by a Strategic Planning Session.
Kirby Anderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 am. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.