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Parent Category: Districtwide News

Category: School Board

Published: 20 May 2026

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 24 August 2026

Hits: 119

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 at the 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, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes, and Stephen Vigesaa. 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: Fergus Falls 544 Education Foundation for their generous donation to each individual Minnesota State High School League activity at 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.  

Reports were presented by: 

• Jeff Drake - Superintendent

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval: 

1. Minutes from the regular School Board meeting held on August 10, 2026

2. Bills (August 11 - 24, 2026)

3. Personnel 

Certified Staff Hire effective:

• Kathryn Scherfenberg, EL teacher .8334 FTE @ elementary schools and iQ Academy, effective 08/24/2026

• Claire Gothier, elementary teacher .6667 FTE  @ iQ Academy, effective 08/24/2026

• Laurie McNallie, FCS teacher .5 FTE @ iQ Academy, effective 08/24/2026

Support Staff Separations:

• Elizabeth Bergem, preschool classroom assistant @ Lincoln, last day worked 05/21/2026

• Noah Link, special education paraprofessional @ Kennedy/HS, last day worked 06/04/2026

• Debra Winkler, special education paraprofessional @ Kennedy/HS, last day worked 06/04/2026

• Emilie Koch, noon hour supervisor @ Cleveland, last day worked 06/04/2026

• James Thorstad, special education paraprofessional @ McKinley, last day worked 06/04/2026

Support Staff Hires:

• Ariana Arntson, special education paraprofessional @ McKinley, effective 08/26/2026

• Hilde Martinson, special education paraprofessional @ Kennedy/HS, effective 08/26/2026

• Britta Amundson, main server @ McKinley, effective 08/25/2026

4. Approve alternate fundraising request for Girls Volleyball for August 2026

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

Unfinished Business: 

1. Jeney Christensen moved to approve the Amendment to Children’s Corner Lease Agreement (revision of Amendment approved by Board on June 8, 2026). The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously. 

New Business: 

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

Resolution for Designation of an Identified Official with Authority for Education Identity and Access Management

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Professional Educator Licensing Standards Board (PELSB), and Office of Higher Education (OHE) require annual designation of an Identified Official with Authority (IOwA) for each local educational agency that uses the Education Identity and Access Management (EDIAM) system. The IOwA is responsible for authorizing, reviewing, and recertifying user access for their local educational agency in accordance with the State of Minnesota Enterprise Identity and Access Management Standard, which states that all user access rights to Minnesota state systems must be reviewed and recertified at least annually. The IOwA will authorize user access to State of Minnesota Education secure systems in accordance with the user’s assigned job duties, and will revoke that user’s access when it is no longer needed to perform their job duties.

The Fergus Falls School Board designates Jeffrey Drake as an IOwA to authorize user access to State of Minnesota Education secure websites for the Fergus Falls Public School District 0544-01.

The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes 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.  

2. Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the updated mileage rate of $.76 to reflect the new IRS rate effective July 1, 2026. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

3. Kelli Graff moved to approve the contract with Myna Therapy  for Speech Language Pathology Services for Approximately 16 Hours/Week, September through November 2026. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.

4. Kirby Anderson moved to approve authorization to advertise for bids for the Cleveland Elementary School Heat Pump Replacement Project. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.

5. Jeney Christensen moved to approve the 2026-2027 School District Goals. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.

6. Kelli Graff moved to approve the  School Nutrition Program Agreement to provide vended meals to Our Lady of Victory School; September 2, 2026 to November 1, 2026. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 5:15 pm Monday, September 14, 2026 in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center. 

Kirby Anderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:34 am. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

_________________________________________

Melissa Hermes, Clerk

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 12 August 2026

Hits: 267

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 at the 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, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes, and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, was also present. 

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. 

Read more: August 10, 2026 board meeting minutes

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 27 July 2026

Hits: 358

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, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, was also present.

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum. 

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

Reports were presented by:

• Jeff Drake – Superintendent

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval: 

1. Minutes from the July 13, 2026 regular School Board meeting.

2. Bills (July 13 - 27, 2026)

3. Personnel

Certified Staff Separations:

• Kara Johnson, occupational therapist - registered @ district wide effective 06/05/2026

Support Staff Hire: 

• Nicole Washek, para educator - library @ McKinley effective 08/27/2026

• Madison Villarreal-Sansom, special education paraprofessional @ Kennedy/HS effective 08/26/2026

• Heidi Hunt, special education paraprofessional @ Adams, effective 08/26/2026

• Kadence Christianson, special education paraprofessional @ Adams, effective 08/26/2026

Support Staff Separations: 

• Samuel Weber, special education paraprofessional @ Adams, last day worked 06/4/2026

• Danielle Svendsgaard, food service - main server @ McKinley, last day worked 07/23/2026

• Sydney Overbo, food service - assistant server @ McKinley, last day worked 06/04/2026

Coach / Activities Hire: 

• Angela Haarstad, middle school activities director @ Kennedy/MS, effective 2026-27 school year

  Read more: July 27, 2026 board meeting minutes

Details

Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 13 July 2026

Hits: 346

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, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, and Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, were also present.

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum. 

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

Reports were presented by: 

• Derek Abrahams – Activities

• Kirby Anderson – 544 Education Foundation, Finance

• Jeney Christensen – Buildings & Grounds

• Melanie Cole – Region I

• Kelli Graff – Staff Development, Wellness

• Missy Hermes – Curriculum Review, Policy

• Stephen Vigesaa – Activities, Meet & Confer

• Jeff Drake – Superintendent

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval: 

1. Minutes from the June 22, 2026 regular School Board meeting.

2. Bills and Treasurer’s Report - reviewed by Stephen Vigesaa & Missy Hermes:

3. Annual review of School Board Policies with no substantive changes: 

• Policy #506: Student Discipline 

• Policy #807: Health & Safety Policy 

• Policy #806: Crisis Management Policy 

4. Personnel

Certified Staff Hire:

• MaryBeth Peterson, computer technology teacher (.9503 FTE) @ Kennedy/MS, effective August 24, 2026

• Ciara Walls, social studies teacher (.3333 FTE) @ iQ Academy, effective August 24, 2026

Support Staff Hire: 

• Chelsee Fisher, special education paraprofessional @ Kennedy/MS, effective August 27, 2026

• Tracy Holdeman, head secretary @ Area Learning Center, effective August 17, 2026

• Elizabeth Hanstad, student services coordinator @ Kennedy/MS, effective August 24, 2026

• Brianna Gerhardson, special education paraprofessional @ Kennedy/MS effective August 27, 2026 

Support Staff Transfers: 

• Nick Grant, transfer from custodian-delivery operator @ Kennedy to evening custodian at McKinley, effective July 1, 2026. 

Support Staff Separations: 

•  Heather Johnston, special education paraprofessional @ Adams, effective June 4, 2026.

Individual Contracts effective 2026-2028  

• Technology Specialist, Susan Lewis

• Accountant, Jason Koehn

• Finance Officer, Marcy Clausen 

• Payroll & Benefits Manager, Sheri Smith 

• Food Service Director, Lance Wells 

• Assistant Director of Special Education, Julie Domino 

• Director of Community Education, Mary Matteson

• Human Resources Director, Amanda Griffin 

• Director of Special Education, Nancy Reard, including grade level increase from grade 11 to grade 13

• Director of Finance and Operations, Renae Macheledt, including grade level increase from grade 12 to 13

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

Unfinished Business: 

1. Second Reading of New School Board Policy:

• Policy 524.5 - PERSONAL ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES 

• Policy 534.5 - STUDENT SNACK GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS 

Jeney Christensen moved to adopt the policies. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously.

New Business: 

1. Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve a wage adjustment for substitute staff positions for Certified Teacher substitutes to $184/day or $92/half day and Support Staff substitutes to $20.00/hour; effective 2026-2027 school year. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

2. Jeney Christensen moved to approve a wage adjustment for non-affiliated support staff (Early Childhood Classroom Assistants, Noon Hour Supervisors, Student Support Aides) to $20.25/hour; effective 2026-2027 school year. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

3. Missy Hermes moved to approve a wage adjustment for accompanist to $22.50/hour; effective 2026-2027 school year. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

4. Jeney Christensen moved to approve the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Concurrent Enrollment Program Contract Between ISD 544 and the State of Minnesota; effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.

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

• Policy #208: Develop, Adoption, and Implementation of Policies

• Policy #402: Disability Nondiscrimination Policy

• Policy #410: Family and Medical Leave Policy 

• Policy #423: Employee-Student Relationships

• Policy #455: Substitute employment procedure - non-licensed personnel 

• Policy #507.5: School Resource Officers 

            The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.

The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:15 am Monday, July 27, 2026 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School. 

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 am. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

A Strategic Planning Meeting followed the regular board meeting to discuss facilities, finance, policy and strategic planning, along with a policy committee meeting Kennedy School Otter Community Room