Regular Board Meeting
Independent School District 564 – Board of Education
December 9, 2024
6:00 p.m.
DSC Board Room
A Regular Meeting of Independent School District #564 Board of Education was held on Monday, December 9, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the DSC board room. The following board members were present: Ryan Walseth, Michelle Westerman, Wayne Nomeland, Mike Spears, and Chris Melbye. Absent were: Misty Hempel, and John Syvertson.
Staff members present were: Dr. Chris Mills, Angie Dahlen, Tony Greene, and Tanya Monson-Ek.
Also present were: Ruby Geiser, Autumn Fladeland, Lindsay Gregory, Jared Kainz, Jeri Nomeland, and Dave Hill.
Board Chair Walseth called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was recited. Clerk Melbye confirmed that a quorum was present.
A motion was made by Michelle Westerman and seconded by Mike Spears to approve the December 9, 2024 agenda, as presented. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Chris Melbye and seconded by Mike Spears to approve the minutes of the November 25, 2024 regular school board meeting, as presented. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Mike Spears and seconded by Ryan Walseth to approve the bills as submitted and on file in the School District Business Office. Motion carried.
Public Comment: None
Recognitions:
A. Thank you to Wayne Nomeland for your 10+ years of service on the Board of Education.
B. Thank you to Chris Melbye for your 12 years of service on the Board of Education.
Reports:
A. Committee Report: Finance Committee
Mike Spears reported on the meeting from 12/4/24. Topics discussed were, Athletic/Activity Fees for 25-26, Scoreboards at the MEC-funding sources, Budget reductions for 25-26-approximately $300,000, working on the list of considerations, School Resource Officer, Communication/Marketing/Advertising-do we use Dehler/PR proposal, Northland Class opportunity, or a possible LHS class project.
B. Student Report:
Ruby Geiser and Autumn Fladeland reported on LHS Activities & Events including the Choir Concert-12/9, Orchestra Concert-12/16, FAFSA meeting 12/12, Drone Competition-12/11, LHS Ugly Sweater Day & Grades 5- 12 will attend the Boys Basketball game at noon on 12/20. Student Achievements-Briley Olsonawski & Brianne Ellison took 3rd at National 4-H Avian Bowl, Kaitlyn Kruse passed her Gold Solo Dance to become a Figure Skating Triple Gold Medalist, Vanessa Thibert & Lucas Rantanen won the Triple A award.
C. Superintendent’s Report:
Dr. Chris Mills discussed his notes from 11/26-12/9, including 25-26 budget planning, would like to get a recommendation to the Finance committee in January, working on the safe routes to school plan, so that we can apply for a grant to help cover the costs.
Business Action Items:
A. A motion was made by Wayne Nomeland and seconded by Michelle Westerman to approve the consent agenda as presented, and as appropriate, per negotiated contract, salary and benefits, and an acceptable background check. Motion carried.
Personnel:
1. Approve the employment of Riley Brouse, Latchkey Student Assistant, effective December 8, 2024.
2. Approve the employment of Lily Hanson, Latchkey Student Assistant, effective December 8, 2024.
3. Approve the employment of Ana Calderon-Isarraraz, Bi-Lingual Paraprofessional, effective December 2,
2024 – May 22, 2025.
4. Accept the resignation of Kenny Beauchane, Paraprofessional, CES, effective December 22, 2024.
5. Accept the resignation of Sherri Pearson, Speech Language Pathologist, effective December 6, 2024.
B. A motion was made by Mike Spears and seconded by Wayne Nomeland to approve the Separation Agreement between Sherri Pearson, Thief River Falls Public Schools, ISD No. 564 and Thief River Falls Education Association effective December 6, 2024. Motion carried.
C. A motion was made by Mike Spears and seconded by Michelle Westerman to approve the RESOLUTION Establishing Combined Polling Places for Multiple Precincts for 2025. Upon a roll call vote, the following voted in favor of: Walseth, Melbye, Westerman, Spears, Nomeland. Hempel and Syvertson were absent. Motion carried.
BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of Independent School District No. 564, State of Minnesota as follows:
1. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the precincts and polling places for School district elections are those precincts or parts of precincts located within the boundaries of the school district which have been established by the cities or towns located in whole or in part within the school district. The board hereby confirms those precincts and polling places so established by those municipalities.
2. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the board may establish a combined polling place for several precincts for school elections not held on the day of a statewide election. The following combined polling place is established to serve the precincts specified for all school district special and general elections not held on the same day as a statewide election in the calendar year following the adoption of this Resolution:
Combined Polling Place:
Ralph Engelstad Arena
525 Brooks Avenue North
Thief River Falls, Mn. 56701
This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 564 located as follows:
3. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.09, the polling place will remain open for voting for school district elections not held on the same day as a statewide election between the hours of 7 o’clock a.m. and 8 o’clock p.m.
4. The clerk is directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the county auditors of each of the counties in which the school district is located, in whole or in part, within thirty (30) days after its adoption.
5. As required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 204B.16, Subdivision 1a, the clerk is hereby authorized and directed to give written notice of new polling place locations to all registered voters in the school district whose school district polling place locations have changed. The notice must be a non forwardable notice mailed at least twenty-five (25) days before the date of the first election to which it will apply. A notice that is returned as undeliverable must be forwarded immediately to the appropriate County Auditor, who shall change the registrant’s status to “challenged” in the statewide registration system.
D. A motion was made by Wayne Nomeland and seconded by Michelle Westerman to approve the proposed Activity fees for the school year 2025-2026 (Appendix). Motion carried.
Other:
A. Truth in Taxation presentation – Tanya Monson-Ek
B. A motion was made by Chris Melbye and seconded by Mike Spears to approve the RESOLUTION to certify 2024 payable 2025 levy at $9,016,615.41. Upon a roll call vote, the following voted in favor of: Nomeland, Walseth, Melbye, Spears, and Westerman. Absent were: Hempel and Syvertson. Motion carried.
C. The school board will have their Organizational meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 5:30 pm in the DSC
Boardroom.
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 6:26 p.m.
Ryan Walseth, Chair
Chris Melbye, Clerk