Battle Lake School Board January 13 and February 3, 2025 Minutes

January 13, 2025 Meeting – The school board of ISD #542, Battle Lake, met in regular session on Monday, January 13, 2025 in the media center. The meeting was called to order by Chair Paul Ness at 6:00 pm. Members present: Jonathan Hartman, Sheila Newark, Ashley Altstadt, Sean Belmont, Bennet Stich and Paul Ness. Members absent: None. Others in attendance were: Rob Nudell, Ryan Severson, Pete Amundson, Jennie Mills, Amy Wicklund, Sue Riedel, Tracy Kortlever, Jenny Cameron, Kate Scherfenberg, Isaac Scherfenberg, Brady Speicher, Katie Molter, Connor Wicklund, Aidan Heggem and Elizabeth Klintworth. All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion to adopt the agenda as revised. (Altstadt/Newark) UC. Aidan Heggem gave an update on student life and activities in the building. The newly elected board members accepted and recited the oath of office. Conner Wicklund presented a hand crafted box to Jonathan Hartman in remembrance of Cadence. The wooden box was constructed by the Construction Trades Class. Motion to approve the minutes of the truth and taxation hearing and the regular December meeting as printed. (Newark/Altstadt) UC. Motion to accept the following donations as specified: Eagle Lake Women $500, Dave and Elaine Tomhave $200, Betty Christianson $50, Helping Hearts Womenade Perham $500, 1st Lutheran pass through account $250, 1st Lutheran WELCA $300, Zion Lutheran $25 – All for the Christmas project/Students’ needs. Ottertail Rod and Gun Club $1500 – Fishing League. Corner Stone Lodge $500 – Mock Trial. Anonymous $600 – Music Department. Anonymous in memory of Gilbert Marso $25 – FFA. (Hartman/Belmont) UC. Member Ashley Altstadt moved to nominate Paul Ness as board chair. With no more nominations from the floor, a unanimous ballot was cast for Paul Ness. Member Sheila Newark moved to nominate Jonathan Hartman as Vice Chair. With no more nominations from the floor, a unanimous ballot was cast for Jonathan Hartman. Member Ashley Altstadt moved to nominate Sheila Newark as clerk. With no more nominations from the floor, a unanimous ballot was cast for Sheila Newark. Member Paul Ness moved to nominate Ashley Altstadt as treasurer. With no more nominations from the floor, a unanimous ballot was cast for Ashley Altstadt. Motion to set the meeting date, time and location of the regular monthly meetings as the 2nd Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the media center. (Newark/Hartman) UC. Motion to designate the First National Bank of Battle Lake and any other institution that meets MN Statutory requirements as the official depository for the district. (Altstadt/ Hartman) UC. Motion to authorize the Superintendent and Business manager as persons to transfer funds between approved bank depositories. (Newark/Hartman) UC. Motion to designate the Battle Lake Review as the official newspaper for the district. (Newark/Hartman) UC. Motion to set the board stipends per meeting and the annual salaries for board chair, clerk and treasurer as follows: $470 for Chair, $95 for Clerk and Treasurer and $90 per meeting. Meetings that are 4 hours or more will be paid at $150 and to set the mileage reimbursement rate to follow the IRS guidelines. Currently that rate is $0.70 per mile. (Altstadt/Newark) UC. Motion to set the standing committee assignments as follows: Special Ed Coop Sheila Newark MSHSL Ashley Altstadt Policy Sheila Newark, Bennet Stich, Jonathan Hartman Community Ed Advisory Paul Ness or Jonathan Hartman Negotiations Paul Ness, Sheila Newark, Sean Belmont Systems Accountability/Curriculum Sean Belmont Legislative Liaison Ashley Altstadt Staff Development/Supt. Evaluation Sheila Newark, Jonathan Hartman, Bennet Stich BL Community Liaison Paul Ness, Jonathan Hartman OTC Family Collaborative Ashley Altstadt Fine Arts Paul Ness, Jonathan Hartman Strategic Plan Review Jonathan Hartman, Sean Belmont, Bennet Stich Battle Lake 542 Ed. Foundation Ashley Altstadt Meet and Confer Sheila Newark, Jonathan Hartman, Bennet Stich Neighboring Schools Collaborative Paul Ness, Sean Belmont Transportation Jonathan Hartman, Sheila Newark Wellness Ashley Altstadt Facilities Paul Ness, Bennet Stich, Jonathan Hartman Health and Safety Jonathan Hartman (Altstadt/Newark) UC. Motion to approve the fundraising request from Shelby Hanson for the 5th grade LLCC. (Newark/Hartman) UC. Motion to approve the following consent agenda items: Payment of bills including checks #60032-#60119 in the amount of $100,445.68; electronic fund transfers in the amount of $2,338,187.81 and a payroll check in the amount of $457.13; acceptance of Treasurer’s Report; acknowledgement of enrollments per grade. Current enrollment for K-12th grade is 401; and approval of the request from Brady Speicher for Family Medical Leave as presented. (Newark/ Hartman) UC. Board members gave updates on committee meetings, conversations and encounters with residents and community members that they had in the past month. Pete Amundson gave an update on the building and grounds. Mr. Severson gave his Principal’s report. Mr. Nudell gave the Superintendent’s report. Next regular meetings are set for February 10 and March 10, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the media center. A negotiation committee meeting on January 27 from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and a board retreat on January 27th from 4:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. With no more items of business on the agenda the meeting was adjourned by Chair Ness at 7:30 p.m. Sheila Newark, Clerk

Special February 3, 2025 Meeting – The School Board of ISD #542, Battle Lake, met in special session on Monday, February 3, 2025 in the media center. The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Jonathan Hartman at 7:32 a.m. Members present: Sheila Newark, Ashley Altstadt, Jonathan Hartman, Bennett Stich and Sean Belmont. Members absent: Paul Ness. Others in attendance were: Rob Nudell, Ryan Severson, Brady Speicher, Pete Amundson and Elizabeth Klintworth. All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion to adopt the agenda as presented. (Belmont/Altstadt) UC. Rob Nudell gave a Superintendent report that included information on the survey that went out to parents and students. The survey results will be available for the board to review possibly later. He also spoke about child care conversations he has had with the Tiny Tikes owners. There is a meeting with interested parties scheduled to take place on March 10th after the regular March meeting. MSEA negotiation update – no agreement has been reached. The union has called for mediation to now start. Members from SiteLogiq joined the meeting via Zoom. The results from the construction bid opening were presented. Motion to accept the bids and alternates as presented and to instruct SiteLogiq to issue the “Notice to Proceed” letters for immediate mobilization and submittals. (Newark/Belmont) UC. With no more items of business remaining on the agenda the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 a.m. Sheila Newark, Clerk (This publication constitutes the legal printing February 26, 2025 of the official minutes of this meeting.)