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. Vice Chair Natalie Knutson called the meeting to order at 7:15 am. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Natalie Knutson and Stephen Vigesaa. Melanie Cole and Matthew Lemke were absent. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.
Kirby Anderson made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
Missy Hermes offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
Thank you to the West Central Initiative for their generous grant for the Roosevelt Education Center Teaching Kitchen.
The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, 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.
Reports were presented by:
- Derek Abrahams, Activities Director - Spring Sports/Fine Arts
- Jeff Drake, Superintendent
General Consent Items
The following consent agenda was presented for approval:
- Minutes from the regular School Board meeting held on June 13, 2022
- Personnel
Certified Staff Hires:
- Aleicia Claassen, Diversity/REACH/FCS teacher @ KSS (.9167 FTE); effective 8/29/22
- Brad Strand, middle school math teacher @ KSS (1 FTE); effective 8/29/22
- Shelly Streich-Simondet, work-based learning teacher @ iQ (.3333 FTE); effective 8/29/22
Certified Staff Resignation:
- Kristine LaVoi, 6th grade teacher @ KSS; effective end of 2021-22 school year
Support Staff Hire:
- Alicia Koval, para educator @ KSS; effective 9/1/2022
Support Staff Resignations:
- Amber Hovland, co-curricular/activities secretary @ KSS; effective 6/30/2022
- Andrea Knick, para educator @ Adams; effective 6/22/2022
Support Staff Contract Changes - Effective 7/1/2022 (FY23)
- Curriculum Office Secretary - Job Description #213 - request to reduce work days to 195/year
- Accounts Receivable Secretary - Job Description #216 - request to reduce work days to 215/year
Coach Resignation:
- Kevin Pearson, head boys’ baseball coach; effective the end of 2021-22 season
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Old Business:
- Missy Hermes moved to approve the FY23 Financial Budget for the Fergus Falls Public Schools. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
New Business:
- Missy Hermes moved to approve the MDE Review & Comment Proposal for Phase #2 of the Lincoln School Project. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
- Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the 2022-23 Fergus Falls Public Schools’ K-12 Student Handbook. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
- Kirby Anderson moved to approve a wage adjustment for substitute staff positions - effective for the 2022-2023 school year: Certified teacher substitutes $140/day or $70/half day; Support staff substitutes $16/hour. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
- Kirby Anderson moved to approve a wage adjustment for non-affiliated staff to $16.25/hour - effective for the 2022-2023 school year. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
- Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve a wage adjustment for ECFE/Preschool Classroom Aides to $17.25/hour - effective for the 2022-2023 school year. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
- Kirby Anderson moved to approve the 2022-23 Health and Safety Executive Summary of Written Plans. The motion was seconded by Steve Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
- Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve revisions to the following School District policies:
- 205: Open Meetings and Closed Meetings
- 208: Development, Adoption, and Implementation of Policies
- 414: Mandated Report of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse
- 513: Student Early Admission, Promotion, Acceleration and Retention
- 605: Alternative Programs
- 609: Religious Expression
The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously.
The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:15 am Monday, July 18, 2022 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School.
A School Board Work Session will be held on July 19, 2022 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School from 7:30 am - 12 noon.
Kirby Anderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:39 am. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
A work session followed the regular board meeting.
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Melissa Hermes, Clerk