Underwood School Board Hires New Superintendent

­­Special School Board Meeting

April 16, 2018  4:30 p.m.

The Underwood School Board Special Meeting was held Monday, April 16, 2018 in the Conference Room.  Present were Board Members John Wold, Rebekah Meder, Michele Peterson, Ardy Johansen, and Mandy Rich, Superintendent Jeremiah Olson, Principal John Hamann and Business Manager Margie Thieschafer.  Absent: Kyle Sem.  Others present:  Diane Ross and Chuck Ross.

Michele Peterson, Chair, called the special meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. with a quorum present.

Motion to approve contract with Principal Hamann for 18-19 and 19-20 school years (Rich/Meder:  MCU).

Motion to adjourn special meeting (Wold/Rich:  MCU).  Meeting adjourned at 4:32 p.m.

Regular School Board Meeting

Following Special School Board Meeting

The Underwood School Board Regular April meeting was held Monday, April 16, 2018 in the Conference Room.  Present were Board Members John Wold, Rebekah Meder, Michele Peterson, Ardy Johansen and Mandy Rich, Superintendent Jeremiah Olson, Principal John Hamann,  and Business Manager Margie Thieschafer.  Absent: Kyle Sem.  Others present:  Diane Ross and Chuck Ross.

Michele Peterson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m. with a quorum present.  Motion to approve the amended agenda (Rich/Meder:  MCU).  Motion to approve minutes of the March 19, 2018 meeting (Johansen/Wold: MCU).   The following donations were acknowledged:  $1,000 Stalker Lake Sportsman’s Club and $500 Park Region Telephone for Clay Target team.  Thanks for the generous donation.

Motion to approve payment of the March and April computer generated checks #47414-47447 and electronic payments totaling $350,278.55 (Wold/Johansen: MCU).  Total expenditures in March by fund were General $545,121.47; Food Service $36,611.64; Community Service $16,983.62 and Debt Service $0.00; for a total of $598,716.73.  School board also received Quarterly Student Activity Report.

Accepted resignation of Jesse Arbuckle as Head Boys Basketball with thanks for all of his efforts (Wold/Johansen:  MCU).

Committee Reports were given by: Johansen on Region I and Lakes Country Service Coop and Rich on Parent Advisory.

Motion to advertise for .4 Full Time Equivalent  Preschool Teacher for 18-19 school year (Rich/Meder:  MCU).

Committee Reports continued:  Rich on Early Childhood Family Education and Wold on Fergus Falls Area Special Education and Non-Certified.

4:51 Sandy Gundlach (MSBA – MN School Board Administration) joined the meeting.  4:56 Activities Director Brian Hovland joined the meeting.  Jeremiah Olson excused himself from the meeting 5:00.  Sandy Gundlach MSBA, presented information on Superintendent search.  5:04 Community Ed Director Anne Stenoien joined the meeting.  5:26 Amber Olson joined the meeting.

The School Board selected five candidates for Superintendent interviews: Joel Timmerman, Stacy Allmares, Dean Koppelman, Paula Foley and Dave Keuhn.

5:54 Jeremiah Olson returned to the meeting.

Board determined interview questions for first round Superintendent interviews.

Motion to adopt wellness policy (Johansen/Meder:  MCU).

Administrative packages for 18-19 and 19-20 school years approved for M. Thieschafer and Stenoien (Wold/Johansen:  MC Voting For:  Wold, Peterson, Johansen and Rich; Voting Against: Meder).

Stenoien gave the Community Education Director report.  Hamann gave the Principal report.  Olson gave the Superintendent report.

Motion to adjourn (Rich/Johansen:  MCU).  Meeting adjourned 7:29 p.m.

John Wold, Clerk

Special School Board Meeting

April 19, 2018  4:00 p.m.

The Underwood School Board April Special meeting was held Thursday April 19, 2018 in the Library.  Present were Board Members Wold, Meder, Peterson, Johansen, Rich and Sem.  Visitors included: Kyle Rich, Dave Thieschafer, Brian Hovland, John Hamann, Houston Wallace, Kristin Goosen, Kali Koehn, TJ Pelanek, Margie Thieschafer and John Klinnert.

Peterson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. with a quorum present.

Motion to approve agenda as stated (Wold/Johansen:  MCU).

The School Board interviewed the following three people for .75 FTE Superintendent position: PAULA FOLEY, DAVE KUEHN, DEAN KOPPELMAN.

Motion to adjourn (Sem/Rich: MCU).  Meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

John Wold, Clerk

Special School Board Meeting

April 20, 2018  5:00 p.m.

The Underwood School Board April Special meeting was held Friday April 20, 2018 in the Library.  Present were Board Members Wold, Meder, Peterson, Johansen, Rich and Sem.  Visitors included: Dave Thieschafer, Kyle Rich, Houston Wallace, John Hamann, Brian Hovland, Margie Thieschafer, Anne Stenoien and Robin Johansen.

Peterson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with a quorum present.

Motion to approve agenda as stated (Sem/Rich:  MCU).

The School Board interviewed the following two people for .75 FTE Superintendent position: JOEL TIMMERMAN, STACI ALLAMARAS

Deliberation was held to determine applicants asked back for second interview to be held Tuesday April 24, 2018 in the Library. Second interview questions, reference check questions and the remaining steps in the hiring process were determined.  Interviews set for 5:05 p.m. Joel Timmerman; 6:20 p.m. Dave Kuehn and 7:35 p.m. Staci Allamaras.

Motion to adjourn meeting (Johansen/Sem: MCU).  Meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.

John Wold, Clerk

Special School Board Meeting

April 24, 2018  5:00 p.m.

The Underwood School Board April Special meeting was held Tuesday April 24, 2018 in the Library.  Present were Board Members Wold, Meder, Peterson, Johansen, Rich and Sem.  Visitors included John Hamann, Brenda Frederick, Houston Wallace, Kala Richards, Jodi Pedersen, Breck Grove and Brian Hovland.

Peterson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with a quorum present.

Motion to approve agenda as stated (Sem/Wold:  MCU).

The School Board interviewed the following three people for .75 FTE Superintendent position:  JOEL TIMMERMAN, DAVE KUEHN, STACY ALLMARAS.

Deliberation was held to determine lone finalist and next actions.

Wold made the motion to extend the offer of an employment contract for the position of .75 FTE Superintendent of Underwood School District to Dave Kuehn pending completion of a mutually agreeable contract and board review of the completed criminal background check. Motion was duly seconded by Sem.  Voting in Favor: Peterson, Meder, Sem, Johansen and Wold; Voting Against:  Rich; motion carried.

Motion to set next meeting date Friday April 27, 2018 in the Conference Room at 5:00 p.m. to set parameters of Superintendent contract (Johansen/Rich:  MCU).

Motion to adjourn meeting (Wold/Sem: MCU).  Meeting adjourned at 10:47 p.m.

John Wold, Clerk

Special School Board Meeting

April 27, 2018  5:00 p.m.

The Underwood School Board April Special meeting was held Friday April 27, 2018 in the Conference Room.  Present were Board Members Wold, Meder, Peterson, Johansen, Rich, Sem and Superintendent Olson.  Visitors included: None.

Peterson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with a quorum present.

Motion to approve agenda as stated (Wold/Johansen:  MCU).

School Board established parameters for Mr. Dave Kuehn’s Superintendent contract.

Motion to adjourn meeting (Sem/Rich: MCU).  Meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m.

John Wold, Clerk