November 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM - School Board Meeting

1. Call meeting to order by the chairperson

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. *Comments from visitors

4.A.

• Comments from visitors must be in relation to Aitkin Public Schools and/or to agenda items.
• We recommend that you sign up at the comment table if you wish to speak. You will be called up in order as listed on the sign-up sheet. When you come forward to comment, please be seated at the comment table facing the Board Members. State your name prior to your comment. Comments will be limited to 5 minutes.
• The Board will not engage in any discussion or debate during this comment session. The Board will take the information and find answers as appropriate.
• As part of Board protocol, it is unacceptable for any speaker to slander or engage in character assassination at a public board meeting. 

5. Approval of agenda - revise or remove as needed

6. Scheduled presentations: (Max. 10 Minutes)

6.A. Student Council Reports
SP Goal 10

7. New business:

7.A. Approve consent agenda items as follows:

7.A.1. Approve the following School Board Meeting Minutes: October 20, 2025
November 7, 2025 

7.A.2. Approve financials for the month of October  2025:

• Office receipts in the amount of $2,007,523.12
• Report of expenditures, including $789,315.68 for bills and $1,065,934.69 for payroll and district contribution to PERA, TRA, OASDI/Medicare and 403(b).
• Donations in the amount of $8,559.00.
• Wire transfers in the amount of $1,645,000.00.
• Employee reimbursements.

7.A.3. Approve Resignations

7.A.3.a. Loren Vonasek - Musical Theatre Set Designer

7.A.3.b. Shelby Trebby - School Nurse

7.A.3.c. LuAnn Larson - Para Professional Rippleside Elementary 

7.A.3.d. Molly Vouk - Musical Director 

7.A.4. Approve Hirings:

7.A.4.a. David Jorgensen- Bus Driver

7.A.4.b. Carol Brick - Licensed School Nurse (LSN)

7.A.4.c. Erin Duerkop - ACC PT Paraprofessional

7.A.5. Consider and approve extracurricular activities.

7.A.5.a. Ben Schwarz - Assistant Basketball Coach 2025-26 

7.A.5.b. Ryan Fowlds - 7th Grade Girls Basketball Coach 2025-26

7.A.5.c. Blaise Sanford - Boys C Squad Basketball Coach 2025-26

7.A.5.d. Ashley Nordberg - One Act Play Director 

7.A.6. Consider and approve volunteer coaches 

7.A.6.a. Noelle Jones - Volunteer girls basketball coach 2025-26 

7.A.6.b. Lydia Fellerman - Volunteer girls basketball coach 2025-26 

7.A.6.c. Jillian MacDonald - Volunteer girls basketball coach - 2025-26 

7.A.7. Seniority Lists

7.A.7.a. Bus Driver Seniority List 2025-26

7.A.7.b. Custodian - Cleaner Seniority List 2025-26

7.A.7.c. Early Childhood Seniority List 2025-26

7.A.7.d. AESS Seniority List - 2025-26

7.A.8. Review & approve revised pay rates 2025-26 school year

7.A.9. Trust in US Drug & Alcohol Testing Service Agreement 2025-26

7.B. Discussion Items:

7.B.1. Transportation Purchases - 

7.B.1.a. Van Purchase

7.B.1.b. International 77 Passenger SPED WC Bus Purchase

8. Administrative reports:

8.A. Board Members Reports:

8.B. Committee Reports:

8.B.1. Personnel Committee Meeting, October 29, 2025.  

8.B.2. Transportation Committee Meeting, November 10, 2025

8.B.3. Safety Committee Meeting, November 11, 2025

8.B.4. Policy Committee Meeting, November 12, 1015 - 1st Reading. Will be reviewed again at the January 14, 2026 meeting.

8.C. Principal's Report:
     Mr. Dokken, Rippleside Elementary School
     Ms. DeMars, Aitkin High School
SP Goal 10

8.D. Community Education - Nedra Henline
SP Goal 10

8.E. Superintendent's report:

8.E.1. Enrollment Update

8.E.2. 2026-2027 School Calendar

• Discuss Start before Labor Day
• MDE allows for schools to start before Labor Day for the next two years.
• Requires Board approval to start before Labor Day

8.E.3. Referendum vote recap and next steps

• Share information from board work session

8.E.4. Other:

8.F. Upcoming meetings:
December 15, 2025 - Truth in Taxation followed by School Board Meeting - 6:00 PM AHS Media Center 
January 14, 2026 - Personnel Committee Meeting - 3:45 PM AHS Media Center
 

9. Other:

10. Adjourn