September 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting

Description:  The September 22, 2025 regular meeting of the Menahga Public School board called to order by Chair Haverinen  at                           with the Pledge of Allegiance and Mission and Vision Statement. 

Board members present:   Andrea Haverinen, Julia Kicker, Katie Howard, Sara Makela, Cherie Peterson and David Treinen.  Others present: ES Principal Lisa Parrish, HS Principal Michelle Koch and Superintendent Jay Kjos.

Description:  Motion by                                 to adopt the agenda as amended/presented

    
Seconded by                          vote

Description:  Teaching and Learning Coordinator update. 

Description:  Minnesota Statutes, Section 13D. 01, Subdivision 3

Description:  If needed:
                        Motion by                           to remove the following from the consent agenda:


                        Seconded by                     vote

Description:  Motion by                           to approve the following consent items:

1.  August 18, 2025 regular meeting minutes; August 18, 2025 pairing and sharing meeting minutes; August 22, 2025 Negotiation meeting minutes; August 27, 2025 Negotiation meeting minutes; September 8, 2025 policy meeting minutes; September 18, 2025 Negotiation meeting minutes;   
2.  Activity fund and monthly claims in the amount of $1,485,265.33
3.  Notice of assignments for the following extra-curricular coach/advisors for the 2025-2026 School Year: Luke Davidson, James Roth,
4. Teacher Contract with Todd Marsden, High School Teacher, BA Step 3, 1.0 FTE per EMM Master Agreement, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year;  
5. Teacher Contract with Logan Gerdes, High School Teacher, BA Step 1, 1.0 FTE per EMM Master Agreement, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year; 
6. Work Assignment for Lisa Mickelson, Paraprofessional, per EMM Paraprofessional Master Agreement, beginning August 25, 2025; 
7. Work Assignment for Justin Gonska, Paraprofessional, per EMM Paraprofessional Master Agreement, beginning September, 2025; 
8. Work Assignment for Makenzie Jurmu, Paraprofessional, per EMM Paraprofessional Master Agreement, beginning September, 2025; 



Seconded by                     vote


 

Description:  Motion by                      to approve the Kenmark Invoice in the amount of $622.00 as presented.

Seconded by                        vote

Description:  Board Delegates and Liaison 2025:
Building Advisory: Katie Howard and David Treinen
Community Education: Andrea Haverinen
Crisis Management: Katie Howard
Freshwater Education District: Katie Howard
Minnesota School Board Association: Andrea Haverinen
Minnesota State High School League: David Treinen
Pairing and Sharing: Andrea Haverinen and Sara Makela
Policy: Andrea Haverinen, Julia Kicker and Cherie Peterson
Negotiations:
Licensed: Julia Kicker and Andrea Haverinen
Paraprofessionals: Katie Howard and Cherie Peterson
Principals: Andrea Haverinen and David Treinen
Rebranding: Cherie Peterson, Sara Makela and David Treinen
Region 5 Development Commission: Andrea Haverinen
Sourcewell: Julia Kicker
Wadena County Collaborative: Cherie Peterson
Wellness: Sara Makela
 

Description:  Motion by                         to approve the following lane change request:

Tanya Carney, BA to BA+30;

Seconded by                       vote

Description:  Motion by                         to accept the letter of resignation from Bill Hodge, bus driver, effective August 31, 2025. We thank Bill for his years of dedicated service to the students of our school.

Seconded by                             vote

Motion by                         to accept the letter of resignation from Katri Haapala, assistant girls basketball coach, effective September 16, 2025. We thank Katri for her years of dedicated service to the students of our school.

Seconded by                             vote

Description:  Motion by                                to approve the request for up to 12 weeks FMLA on or about February 23, 2025.  

Seconded by                           vote

Description:  Chair Haverinen set the following for the Truth and Taxation Hearing: (Time not before 6:00 p.m. This can be part of the regular board meeting.)
Day:
Date:
Time:
Place:
 

Description:  Motion by                              to hereby certify the Proposed 2025 Payable 2026 tax levy at the________________, with it being understood that the final levy certification and current year budget review will occur during the regular December board meeting.

Seconded by                                  vote

Description:  Member _____________________________ introduced the following OPEN ENROLLMENT RESOLUTION FOR 2025-2026
WHEREAS the State of Minnesota has established an open enrollment program permitting students to attend nonresident districts pursuant to the limitations of Minnesota Statutes § 124D.03, and
WHEREAS the State of Minnesota has also established criteria for school districts to limit open enrollment applications based on district-wide grade level capacity, class, program, and school building capacity, and
WHEREAS the administration has determined that additional development and anticipated enrollment increases at Menahga Elementary School have resulted in lack of space availability,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that for purposes of open enrollment, the following grade level cap will be in effect for the 2025-2026 school year, Grade 3 in person classes capped at 75.

And BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the administration, in consultation with participating districts, be authorized to approve or disapprove all nonresident applications related to Agreements between School Boards. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member _____________________, and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: 
and the following voted against: 
Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
 

Description:  Motion by                                 to approve updated Strategic Plan as presented. 

Seconded by                             vote

Description: 
The following resolution was introduced by ___________________________                                     

        RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DONATIONS
    WHEREAS, MS 123B.02, Subd. 6 provides:  "The board may receive, for the benefit of the district, bequests, donations, or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to the purpose designated.  In that behalf, the board may act as trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district, or for the benefit of pupils thereof, including trusts created to provide pupils of the district with advanced education after completion of high school, in the advancement of education."; and
   WHEREAS, MS 465.03 provides: "Any city, county, school district or town may accept a grant or devise of real or personal property and maintain such property for the benefit of its citizens in accordance with the terms prescribed by the donor.  Nothing herein shall authorize such acceptance or use for religious or sectarian purposes.  Every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full."; and
   WHEREAS, every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full; 
   THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the School Board of Menahga Public School Dist 821 gratefully accept the following donations as identified below: Resolution seconded by  _________________________

The vote on adoption of the Resolution was as follows:
   voting aye:
   voting nay:
   absent:
   Whereupon, said resolution was declared duly adopted.

Description:  Motion by                          to accept, with gratitude, the following grant(s); Seconded by                    vote

Description:  Motion by                           to approve the first reading of policy 416 Drug, Alcohol, and Cannabis Testing as presented. 

Seconded by                         vote

Description:  Motion by                             to approve the first reading of policy 613 Graduation Requirements as presented. 

Seconded by                          vote

Description:  Motion by                             to approve the first reading of policy 620 Credit for Learning as presented. 

Seconded by                             vote

Description:  Motion by                                to adjourn the  2025 regular meeting of the Menahga Public School board at

Seconded by                         vote