Reports were presented by:

• Kirby Anderson – 544 Education Foundation, Finance, Activities

• Melanie Cole – Spec Ed Coop, Region I, Meet & Confer

• Missy Hermes – Curriculum Review, Policy

• Natalie Knutson - Wellness, Buildings & Grounds, Policy

• Stephen Vigesaa – Staff Development

• Jeff Drake – Superintendent

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval:

1. Minutes from the July 15, 2024 regular school board meeting

2. Bills and Treasurer’s Report - reviewed by Missy Hermes and Kirby Anderson:

1. Personnel

Certified Staff Hires:

• Emily Bellamy, speech language pathologist @ iQ; effective 8/26/2024

• Nicholas Ganoe, music/band teacher @ KSS MS; effective 8/26/2024

• Nicholas Larson, music/choir teacher @ MCK/KSS MS; effective 8/26/2024

• Ryan Beherns, special education teacher @ KSS HS; effective 8/26/2024

• Sabrina Etienne, elementary/social studies teacher/long term substitute @ iQ; effective 8/26/2024

• Caleb Anderson, business ed teacher/long term substitute @ KSS; effective 8/26/2024

• Monica Petersen, math teacher @ KSS/ALC; effective 8/26/2024

• Anne Hintz, music teacher @ iQ / additional .1667 FTE (.2667 FTE total); effective 8/26/2024

• Terry Page, science teacher-long term substitute @ KSS MS: effective 8/26/2024-mid November 2024

Certified Staff Resignations:

• Alexander Howe, long term substitute teacher-science; effective 7/23/2024

• Dallas McBride, math teacher; effective 7/27/2024

Support Staff Resignations:

• Lisa Salvesen, special education paraprofessional; effective 7/22/2024

• Ashleigh Holmquist, special education paraprofessional; effective 7/23/2024

• Sara Johnson, noon hour supervisor; effective 7/31/2024

• Ethan Anderson, head custodian; last work day-8/30/2024

• Kylene Johnson, noon hour supervisor @ McKinley; effective 8/5/2024

• Amanda Brumfield, nonpublic school registered nurse; effective 8/5/2024

Support Staff Retirements:

• Jill Thorstad, special education paraprofessional; effective 7/22/2024

Support Staff Hires:

• Constance Cooper, third party billing/sp ed secretary @ Lincoln School; effective 8/12/2024

• Cindy Rogness, head secretary @ ALC; effective 8/12/2024

• Margaret Ness-Ludwig, para educator @ ALC; effective 8/28/2024

• Kylene Johnson, para educator @ McKinley; effective 8/28/2024

• Kaleigh Yttreness, para educator @ Adams; effective 8/28/2024

• EllyAna Davis, special education paraprofessional @ Lincoln; effective 8/28/2024

• Kyla Bertram, special education paraprofessional @ McKinley; effective 8/28/2024

• Maia Scholten, special education paraprofessional @ KSS/MS; effective 8/28/2024

• Abby Schultz, special education paraprofessional @ KSS/MS; effective 8/28/2024

• Natalie Swenson, special education paraprofessional @ KSS/MS; effective 8/28/2024

Head Coach Resignation:

• Titus Christianson, head boys tennis coach; effective 7/31/2024

1. 2024-2026 Contract between ISD 544 and the Fergus Falls Para Educators Association

2. 2024-2026 Contract between ISD 544 and the Minnesota School Employees Association Custodial/Secretarial Positions

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

Old Business:

None

New Business:

1. Melanie Cole moved to set the FY25 Fergus Falls Public School’ Meal Rates:

• Student Regular Breakfast K-12: Free

• Adult Breakfast: $2.65 (no change)

• Student Regular Lunch K-12: Free

• Adult Lunch: $5.00 (set by MDE)

• A la carte entrée: $3.00 (no change)

• Milk Only: 45¢ (was 40¢)

• If a student wishes to purchase a second meal, it will be charged at the adult meal rate.

The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

1. Stephen Vigesaa moved to accept the Quote from Solid Technology Systems for a new Auditorium Sound System in the amount of $105,948. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.

2. Missy Hermes moved to accept the bid from Ferguson Brothers for the ALC and Armory Parking Lots - Mill and Overlay Project in the amount of $178,541.50. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.

3. Melanie Cole moved to approve Child and Adult Care Food Program Renewal of Contract for Vended Meals 2024 between ISD #544 and Children’s Corner; effective 9/3/2024-6/3/2025. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.

4. Melanie Cole moved to approve 2024-2025 Fergus Falls Public Schools’ K-12 Student Handbook. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

5. Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve Additional 1 FTE Para Educator Position (high school); effective 2024-25 school year. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.

6. Melanie Cole moved to approve Additional 1 FTE Night Custodian Position (Lincoln); effective 2024-25 school year. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

7. Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the 2024-2025 School District Goals. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.

8. Melanie Cole moved to approve the Memorandum Of Understanding between Fergus Falls Public School District And Otter Tail County Family Services Collaborative; effective July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

9. Missy Hermes moved to approve Revisions to current School Board Policies:

• Policy #102: Equal Education Opportunity

• Policy #413: Harassment and Violence

• Policy #416: Drug, Alcohol and Cannabis Testing

• Policy #418: Drug Free Workplace/Drug Free School

• Policy #419: Tobacco Free Environment

• Policy #425: Staff Development and Mentoring

• Policy #503: Student Attendance

• Policy #506: Student Discipline

• Policy #507: Corporal Punishment and Prone Restraint

• Policy #509: Enrollment of Nonresident Students

• Policy #513: Student Early Admission, Promotion, Acceleration, Retention and Program Design

• Policy #515: Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records

• Policy #521: Student Disability Non-Discrimination

• Policy # 524: Internet, Technology, and Cell Phone Acceptable Use and Safety

• Policy #532: Use of Peace Officers and Crisis Teams

• Policy #535: Service Animals in Schools

• Policy #601: School District Curriculum and Instruction Goals

• Policy #603: Curriculum Development

• Policy #604: Instructional Curriculum

• Policy #608: Instructional Services-Special Education

• Policy #609: Religion and Religious and Cultural Observances

• Policy #613: Graduation Requirements

• Policy #614: School District Testing Plan and Procedure

• Policy #615: Testing Accommodations, Modification and Exemptions

• Policy #616: School District System Accountability

• Policy #619: Staff Development for Standards

• Policy #624: Online Instruction

• Policy #707: Transportation of Public School Students

• Policy # 708: Transportation of Non-Public School Students

• Policy #709: Student Transportation Safety Policy

• Policy #802: Disposition of Obsolete Equipment and Material

The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.

1. Melanie Cole moved to approve the first reading of a new School Board Policy #512: School Sponsored Media and Activities. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.

2. Stephen Vigesaa offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:

RESOLUTION ON THE RETIREMENT OF JILL THORSTAD

WHEREAS Jill Thorstad began her employment with the Fergus Falls Public Schools in July 2000, and

WHEREAS Jill has been a valued employee with the Fergus Falls Public Schools for the past 25 years, and

WHEREAS Jill has been a dedicated special education paraprofessional for the district and,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Fergus Falls School Board to thank Jill Thorstad for her 25 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, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knutson, and Stephen Vigesaa;

and the following voted against same:

None.

Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted.

1. Stephen Vigesaa offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:

RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS AND CALLING AN ELECTION THEREON

BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 544, State of Minnesota, as follows:

1. The School Board hereby finds and determines that it is necessary and expedient for the School District to borrow money in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $48,840,000 and not to exceed any limitation upon the incurring of indebtedness which shall be applicable on the date or dates of the issuance of any bonds, for the purpose of providing funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of a new grades 3-5 elementary school facility. The question on the borrowing of funds for these purposes shall be School District Question 1 on the School District ballot at the special election held to approve said authorization.

2. The School Board hereby finds and determines that it is also necessary and expedient for the School District to borrow money in an aggregate amount not to exceed $910,000 and not to exceed any limitation upon the incurring of indebtedness which shall be applicable on the date or dates of the issuance of any bonds, for the purpose of providing funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of soccer and baseball fields at the new grades 3-5 elementary school facility. The question on the borrowing of funds for these purposes shall be School District Question 2 on the School District ballot at the special election held to authorize said borrowing. The passage of said School District Question 2 shall be contingent upon the approval of School District Question 1 as described above and herein.

3. The administration of the School District is hereby authorized and directed to consult with the Minnesota Department of Education and cause a proposal to be prepared and submitted to the Commissioner of Education for the Commissioner’s Review and Comment on behalf of the School Board, and to take such other actions as necessary to comply with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 123B.71, as amended. Any such actions taken by the administration prior to the date of this resolution are hereby ratified, confirmed, and approved in all respects. The actual holding of the special election on School District Question 1 and School District Question 2 specified above shall be contingent upon the receipt of a positive or unfavorable (provided applicable statutory requirements are met) Review and Comment from the Commissioner of Education on the projects included in those questions.

4. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause the Commissioner’s Review and Comment to be published in the legal newspaper of the School District at least forty-eight (48) but no more than seventy (70) days prior to the date of the special election stated below.

5. The School Board must hold a public meeting to discuss the Commissioner’s Review and Comment before the referendum for bonds.

6. The ballot questions specified above shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the School District at a special election, which is hereby called and directed to be held in conjunction with the State General Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. This date is a uniform election date specified in Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.05.

7. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the precincts and polling places for this special election are those polling places and precincts or parts of precincts located within the boundaries of the School District and which have been established by the cities or towns located in whole or in part within the School District. The voting hours at those polling places shall be the same as those for the State General Election.

8. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause written notice of said special election to be given: (i) to the county auditor of each county in which the School District is located, in whole or in part, at least eighty-four (84) days prior to the date of said election; and (ii) to the Commissioner of Education, at least seventy-four (74) days prior to the date of said election. The notice shall specify the date of said special election and the title and language for each ballot question to be voted on at said special election. Any notice given prior to the date of the adoption of this resolution is ratified and confirmed in all respects.

9. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of said special election to be posted for public inspection at the administrative offices of the School District at least ten (10) days before the date of said special election.

10. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause a sample ballot to be posted at the administrative offices of the School District at least four (4) days before the date of said special election and to cause two sample ballots to be posted in each polling place on election day. The sample ballots shall not be printed on the same color paper as the official ballot.

11. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of said special election to be published in the official newspaper of the School District, for two (2) consecutive weeks with the last publication being at least one (1) week before the date of said election. The notice of election so posted and published shall state each question to be submitted to the voters as set forth in the form of ballot below, and shall include information concerning each established precinct and polling place.

12. The Clerk is authorized and directed to acquire and distribute such election materials as may be necessary for the proper conduct of this special election and generally to cooperate with election authorities conducting other elections on that date. The Clerk and members of the administration are authorized and directed to take such actions as may be necessary to coordinate this election with those other elections, including entering into agreements or understandings with appropriate officials regarding preparation and distribution of ballots, election administration and cost sharing.

13. The Clerk and members of the administration are further authorized and directed to cause a ballot to be prepared for use at said election in substantially the following form, with such changes in form, color, instructions, and content as may be necessary to accommodate an optical scan voting system, to correct typographical errors or to comply with the form and content requirements of applicable state election laws:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Special Election Ballot

Independent School District No. 544

(Fergus Falls Public Schools)

November 5, 2024

_________________________________________________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS

To vote, completely fill in the oval(s) next to your choice(s) like this:

_________________________________________________________________________________

.

To vote for a question, fill in the oval next to the word "Yes" on that question.

To vote against a question, fill in the oval next to the word "No" on that question.

School District Question 1

Approval of School District Bond Issue

School District Question 2

Approval of School District Bond Issue

14. Optical scan ballots must be printed in black ink on white material, except that marks to be read by the automatic tabulating equipment may be printed in another color ink. The name of the precinct and machine-readable identification must be printed on each ballot. Voting instructions must be printed at the top of the ballot on each side that includes ballot information. The instructions must include an illustration of the proper mark to be used to indicate a vote. Lines for initials of at least two election judges must be printed on one side of the ballot so that the judges’ initials are visible when the ballots are enclosed in a secrecy sleeve.

15. If the School District will be contracting to print the ballots for this special election, the Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to prepare instructions to the printer for layout of the ballot. Before a contract in excess of $1,000 is awarded for printing ballots, the printer, at the request of the election official, shall furnish, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Section 204D.04, a sufficient bond, letter of credit or certified check acceptable to the Clerk in an amount not less than $1,000 conditioned on printing the ballots in conformity with the Minnesota election law and the instructions delivered. The Clerk shall set the amount of the bond, letter of credit, or certified check in an amount equal to the value of the purchase.

16. The individuals designated as judges for the State General Election shall act as election judges for this special election at the various polling places and shall conduct said election in the manner described by law. The election judges shall act as clerks of election, count the ballots cast and submit them to the School Board for canvass in the manner provided for other school district elections. The special election must be canvassed between the third and the tenth day following the special election.

17. The Clerk shall make all Campaign Financial Reports required to be filed with the School District under Minnesota Statutes, Section 211A.02 available on the School District’s website. The Clerk must post the report on the School District’s website as soon as possible, but no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the receipt of the report. The School District must make a report available on the School District’s website for four years from the date the report was posted to the website. The Clerk must also provide the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board with a link to the section of the website where reports are made available.

The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knutson, 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 Monday, August 26, 2024 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School.

Kirby Anderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:53 am. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.

A work session followed the regular board meeting.