by April Scheinoha
Editor
The Thief River Falls School Board approved the final budget for 2024-25 and approved matters related to the upcoming school year at its meeting Tuesday, May 27.
The board approved the 2024-25 final budget as presented. Total budget items with the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund included $31,984,727 in total revenues and $32,842,671 in total expenditures.
School Board approved the non-unit/wage schedule for 19 positions for 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28. The positions are Community Education positions, grant-funded positions and other positions. The schedule ranged from minimum wage for an activities student assistant, which will remain the same over the course of the schedule, and $31.42 per hour in 2025-26 for a grant-funded translator (starting rate Department of Education). Currently, the latter amount is $30.80 per hour. Superintendent Dr. Chris Mills said the increases are reasonable increases.
Board members approved a purchase of service agreement with Pediatric Partners for speech and occupational therapy from May 27 through Aug. 31. As part of the agreement, the district will pay $125 per hour for occupational therapy services provided by a registered occupational therapist and $65.44 per hour for occupational therapy services provided by a certified occupational therapy assistant.
By a vote of 4-0 with an abstention, School Board approved the Lincoln High School band and orchestra trip to Florida in 2026. Chairperson Ryan Walseth abstained from voting since his business, Bergan Travel, is handling the trip. Directors Misty Hempel and Jared Kainz were absent from the meeting.
The groups are planning a performance tour in Orlando in late March 2026 or late May 2026/early June 2026 depending on the cost of airfare.
School Board recognized:
• Franklin Middle School on winning the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals’ Star of Innovation Gold Star Award. The school received the award for its House of Uncommon program.
• Lincoln High School math teacher Reid Froiland for his selection for induction into the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League Hall of Fame.
• ISD 564 staff for their help in obtaining a record low workers’ compensation modification rate of 0.62, the lowest rate the district has obtained in more than 25 years.
Mills said the workers’ compensation modification rate was a big deal given the number of district employees. He said buildings and ground staff deserve a lot of credit for that modification rate due to their work on ensuring people don’t slip and fall on ice. The modification rate enabled the district to receive $5,800 back.
School Board approved renewing its workers’ compensation insurance coverage with SFM Mutual Insurance Company through North Risk Partners. The coverage spans from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The estimated premium is $83,484.
The board accepted the retirement of Robert Flick, effective July 31. Flick has been employed with the district for 27 years. He is employed as a cleaner and bus driver.
As part of its consent agenda, the board approved an employment, various assignments and various resignations. Among them were the resignation of Bob Huot, longtime assistant girls hockey coach and assistant girls softball coach, effective Friday, May 23.
Also on the consent agenda was the approval of the assignment of Will Anderson, a teacher at Challenger Elementary School, effective Aug. 25. In April, the board terminated Anderson’s one-year only teaching contract at the end of the 2024-25 school year. His position had been funded through a fundraiser, but he later had the opportunity to apply for any open positions in the district.
Mills delivered his superintendent’s report. He thanked employees for their work during the final few weeks of school. In particular, he acknowledged the work of food service staff and buildings and grounds staff. He said the food service staff provided food for various school district events in addition to their normal schedule of student meals. DigiKey paid for the food for two of those events.
With regard to the buildings and grounds staff, Mills referred to their work setting up for various events, including graduation.
Graduation was held four days before the meeting. Mills said he heard from a number of people regarding the excellent sound quality at this year’s commencement ceremony. He noted the district used its own sound system for the event.
Mills also thanked Activities Director Chris McLean for his wonderful job in obtaining workers on short notice for a Roseau versus East Grand Forks baseball game. The game was initially scheduled elsewhere, but the location was later changed to the Multi-Events Center.
The next School Board meeting is scheduled Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m. at the District Service Center.