Battle Lake School Board September 17, 2024 minutes

The school board of ISD #542, Battle Lake, met in a regular session on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 in the media center. The meeting was called to order by Chair Paul Ness at 6:00 p.m. Members present: Rachel Logan, Sheila Newark, Paul Ness, Ashley Altstadt and Jonathan Hartman. Members absent: Aimie Hallberg. Others in attendance were: Rob Nudell, David Marso, Pete Amundson, Anne Hubert, Jennie Mills, Tracy Kortlever, Sue Riedel, Amy Wicklund, Dan Ukkelberg, Janell Kraemer, Kate Scherfenberg, Beth Wallevand, Cora Kujava, Patsi Kugler, Aidan Heggem, Mary Reedy and Elizabeth Klintworth. All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion to adopt the agenda as presented. (Hartman/Logan) UC. Mary Reedy from CLA, the district’s auditing firm, was in attendance and presented the annual audit for the year ending June 30, 2024. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular August meeting as printed. (Hartman/ Altstadt) UC. Motion to accept the following donation as specified: Everts Township $500 – Summer Recreation. Hasel’s Fund $3000 for classroom supplies and music enrichment. (Newark/Hartman) UC Motion to approve the following consent agenda items: Payment of bills including checks #59673-#59764 in the amount of $192,579.40, electronic fund transfers in the amount of $114,600.12; Treasurer’s Report as presented; Student enrollment numbers per grade for the first week of school. K -12 is 417; Recommendation to hire Stephanie Christianson as a paraprofessional; preliminary Seniority list; fundraising applications as presented; letter of resignation from Jeanette Menze as custodian; approval of the exit interview questionnaire and recommendation for hire of Vickie Nordick as custodian. (Altstadt/Newark) UC. Aidan Heggem gave a student representative update. Board members gave updates on communications and/or meetings they have had with residents and community members within the past month. David Marso gave an update on Activities and Athletics. Ryan Severson was not in attendance, but he had a written report for the board to review. Rob Nudell gave his Superintendent’s report. Motion to approve the proposed levy for Pay 2025 at the Maximum. (Newark/Hartman) UC. A copy is on file in the district office. Motion to call for quotes on snow plowing for the 2024-25 school year. Those quotes will be acted upon at the regular October meeting. ( Altstadt/Logan) UC. Motion to approve the Assurance of Compliance with MDE as it pertains to non-discrimination, mandated reporting, Human Rights and Title IX. (Hartman/Newark) UC. Chair Paul Ness gave an update on the MSEA union negotiations for the classified staff. Motion to approve the recommendation to increase the substitute teacher pay to $150 for a full day and $75 for anything less than 4 hours. (Logan/Altstadt) UC. Motion to approve the modified school calendar to take into consideration the days needed to implement LETRs training. (Altstadt/Hartman) UC. Motion to approve the request from Dan Ukkelberg to allow students to attend the National FFA convention from October 23 -October 26 in Indianapolis, Indiana even though they are not competing. (Altstadt/ Hartman) UC. The next meetings of the school board are scheduled for October 14 and November 12 both beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the media center. The dates and times for Meet and Confer are set for 1 hour prior to regular school board meetings during the months of November, February and May. The dates and times for the Safety Committee meetings are set as follows: 3:20 p.m. in the media center on Sept. 11, Nov. 13, Jan. 8, and March 12. The dates and times for the Wellness Committee meetings are set as follows: 7:30 a.m. in the media center or a conference room on Sept. 18, Nov. 13, Feb. 12 and April 9. With no more items of business remaining on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned by Chair Paul Ness at 7:16 p.m. Sheila Newark, Clerk (This publication constitutes the legal printing October 23, 2024 of the official minutes of this meeting.)