Natalie Knutson, Chair
Committees: Finance Committee; Buildings & Grounds; Policy Committee; Wellness Committee
Negotiations: Special Education Paraprofessionals; District-wide Individual Contracts
Term ends: 2024
Email: nknutson@fergusotters.org
Melanie Cole, Vice Chair
Committees: Spec Ed. Coop & Region I Board; Buildings & Grounds
Negotiations: Certified staff; Special Education Paraprofessionals
Term ends: 2026
Email: mcole@fergusotters.org
Phone: 218-205-4854
Kirby Anderson, Treasurer
Committees: Finance Committee; 544 Education Foundation; Activities Committee
Negotiations: Principals
Term ends: 2026
Email: kirbyanderson@fergusotters.org
Phone: 218-770-7161
Melissa Hermes, Clerk
Committees: Staff Development; Policy Committee
Negotiations: Certified staff; Cafeteria
Term ends: 2026
Email: mhermes@fergusotters.org
Matthew Lemke
Committees: MN State HS League & Co-Curricular; Activities Committee; Finance Committee
Negotiations: Certified staff; Principals; Secretaries & Custodians
Term ends: 2024
Email: mlemke@fergusotters.org
Phone: 218-731-1385
Stephen Vigesaa
Committees: Activities Committee; Policy Committee; Curriculum Review Committee
Negotiations: Principals; Secretaries & Custodians; Title 1 Paras & Para Educators
Term ends: 2024
Email: svigesaa@fergusotters.org
Phone: 507-993-5941
- Details
- Written by: Jesse Thorstad
- Parent Category: Districtwide News
- Category: School Board
- Hits: 635
(First Publication Date: July 13, 2022)
NOTICE OF FILING DATES FOR ELECTION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 544
FERGUS FALLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
STATE OF MINNESOTA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the period for filing affidavits of candidacy for
the office of school board member of Independent School District No. 544 shall
begin on August 2, 2022, and shall close at 5:00 o’clock p.m. on August 16, 2022.
The general election shall be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. At that election,
three members will be elected to the School Board for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2027.
Affidavits of Candidacy are available from the school district clerk, Kennedy
Secondary School - 601 Randolph Avenue, Fergus Falls MN 56537. The filing fee
for this office is $2. A candidate for this office must be an eligible voter, must be 21
years of age or more on assuming office, must have been a resident of the school
district from which the candidate seeks election for thirty (30) days before the gen-
eral election, and must have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the same
primary or next ensuing general election.
The affidavits of candidacy must be filed in the office of the school district clerk
and the filing fee paid prior to 5:00 o’clock p.m. on August 16, 2022.
Dated: July 11, 2022
BY ORDER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
/s/ Melissa Hermes, School District Clerk
Publication Date: July 13, 2022
- Details
- Written by: Missy Hermes
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 97
The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Community Education Office at the Roosevelt Education Center. Chair Natalie Knutson called the meeting to order at 5:17 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa. Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.
Melanie Cole made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Stephen Vigesaa offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
Thank you to Tyler Rowlan for his donation of a Yamaha Trumpet to the Kennedy Secondary School Music Department.
- Details
- Written by: Jesse Thorstad
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 292
The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School. Chair Natalie Knutson called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.
Melanie Cole made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.
Stephen Vigesaa offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
Thank you to Jeff & Gina Ackerson, Barry & Pamela Boettcher, and Alice Halvorson for their donations to the Otter Angel Account, an account created to anonymously assist families unable to pay for student meals.
- Details
- Written by: Missy Hermes
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 151
The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School. Chair Natalie Knutson called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Natalie Knutson and Stephen Vigesaa. Matthew Lemke was absent. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.
Melanie Cole made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Natalie Knutson offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
Thank you to Barry & Pamela Boettcher, Jeanne Schetnan, Joanne Connelly, and Starrla Klaksvik for their donations to the Otter Angel Account, an account created to anonymously assist families unable to pay for student meals.
- Details
- Written by: Missy Hermes
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 177
The reorganization meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School. Melanie Cole, presiding 2022 Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent; Renae Macheledt, Finance Director; and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director were also present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
The Oath of Office was presented by Supt. Jeff Drake to re-elected School Board members Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, and Missy Hermes.
Missy Hermes, acting clerk, established a quorum.
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.
Election of Chairperson:
Matthew Lemke nominated Natalie Knutson for the position of chairperson. Due to no further forthcoming nominations, Melanie Cole, presiding chair, declared Natalie Knutson as elected 2023 chairperson by acclamation.
Election of Other Officers:
Read more: Jan. 9, 2023 School Board Reorganization Meeting minutes
- Details
- Written by: Missy Hermes
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 396
The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School. Chair Melanie Cole called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.
Matthew Lemke made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.
Melanie Cole offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
- Nov. 14, 2022 board meeting minutes
- October 24, 2022 Board meeting minutes
- October 10, 2022 Board Meeting minutes
- September 26, 2022 board meeting minutes
- September 12, 2022 board meeting minutes
- August 22, 2022 board meeting minutes
- August 8, 2022 Board meeting minutes
- July 18, 2022 board meeting minutes
- June 27, 2022 board meeting minutes
- June 13, 2022 School Board meeting minutes
Subcategories
Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the meetings of the Fergus Falls Public Schools School Board.