Battle Lake School September 8, 2025 Minutes

The school board of ISD #542, Battle Lake, met in a regular session on Monday, September 8, 2025 in the media center. The meeting was called to order by Chair Paul Ness at 5:30 p.m. Members present: Sean Belmont, Bennet Stich, Sheila Newark, Paul Ness, Ashley Altstadt and Jonathan Hartman. Members absent: None. Others in attendance were: Rob Nudell, David Marso, Pete Amundson, Jennie Mills, Tracy Kortlever, Amy Wicklund, Janell Kraemer, Trisha Stich, Katrina Ball, Betsy Everts, Mary Reedy, Connor Wicklund and Elizabeth Klintworth. All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion to adopt the agenda as presented. (Newark/Hartman) UC. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular August meeting as printed. (Hartman/ Stich) UC. Mary Reedy from CLA, the district’s auditing firm, was in attendance and presented the annual audit for the year ending June 30, 2025. Motion to accept the following donation as specified: First Lutheran Church $482.55 and Our Lake of the Lake $245 – All for Student Needs. (Altstadt/Newark) UC Motion to approve the following consent agenda items: Hiring of Allison Anderson as Head Cook, resignation of Madison Habedank as a paraprofessional, School Policies 401-405 for a first reading, Preliminary seniority list for the Education Minnesota staff, preliminary seniority list for the MSEA staff, fundraising applications, hiring of food service workers Madelaine Kluender and Vickie Nordick, hiring of bus drivers Kris Lee and Rick Mekalson, hiring of an additional Afterschool Enrichment Staff member-Amanda Lanter and setting of the fees for the school year. (Hartman/Stich) UC. Connor Wicklund gave a student representative update. David Marso gave an update on Activities and Athletics. Ryan Severson gave his Principal’s report. Rob Nudell gave his Superintendent’s report. Bennet Stich updated the board on the progress of the marketing plan. More information will be presented at future meetings. Board members gave updates on communications and/or meetings they have had with residents and community members within the past month. Trisha Stich addressed the board about security of the school building and safety for the students, staff and others who may be in the building during events, activities or meetings. Motion to approve and pay the bills in the amount of $124,210.24, the electronic fund transfers of $2,265,021.38 and payroll checks of $2895.65. Also accept the Treasurer’s report as presented and the K-12 enrollment number of 398 for the first week of school. (Newark/Hartman) UC. Motion to approve the annual financial audit as presented for the year ending June 30, 2025 (Stich/Hartman) UC. A copy is on file in the district office. Motion to approve the school policies 300 series as presented. All those policies are available on line through the schools website. (Newark/Alstadt) UC. Motion to approve the proposed levy for Pay 2026 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 2025-26 school year. Those quotes will be acted upon at the regular October meeting. (Altstadt/Belmont) UC. Motion to approve the Assurance of Compliance with MDE as it pertains to non-discrimination, mandated reporting, Human Rights and Title IX. (Hartman/Belmont) UC. Motion to approve for hire Bridgett Raph Formo as a Title I paraprofessional to begin September 15, 2025. (Newark/Hartman) UC. There was consensus from the board that staff would be able to have use of their Personal Electronic Devices during non student contact time. The next meetings of the school board are scheduled for October 13 and November 10 both beginning at 5:30 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.17, Nov. 19, Jan. 21, and March 18. 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. 24, Nov.12, Feb. 11 and April 8. With no more items of business remaining on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned by Chair Paul Ness at 7:12 p.m. Sheila Newark, Clerk This publication constitutes the legal printing October 22, 2025 of the official minutes of this meeting.)