June 22, 2026 board meeting minutes

 Unfinished Business: 

 None

New Business: 

1. Missy Hermes moved to approve the Agreement between ISD #544 and Education Minnesota Fergus Falls Special Education Paraprofessional Association for 2026-28. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

2. Kirby Anderson moved to approve the FY27 Membership with Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA); $2500. The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and carried unanimously. 

3.  Jeney Christensen moved to approve the 2026-27 Health and Safety Executive Summary of Written Plans. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

4. Melanie Cole offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:

Resolution Establishing Dates for Filing Affidavits of Candidacy

WHEREAS Minnesota Statutes, section 205A.06 establishes the processes regarding affidavits of candidacy for election to a school board, including the requirement for publishing notice of the first and last dates on which affidavits of candidacy may be filed.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 544, (Fergus Falls Public School)  State of Minnesota, as follows:

1. The period for filing affidavits of candidacy for the office of school board member of Independent School District No. 544 shall begin on July 14, 2026 and shall close on July 28, 2026. An affidavit of candidacy must be filed in the office of the school district clerk and the $2 filing fee paid prior to 5:00 o’clock p.m. on July 28, 2026.

2. The clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of said filing dates to be published in the official newspaper of the district, at least two (2) weeks prior to the first day to file affidavits of candidacy.

3. The clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of said filing dates to be posted at the administrative offices of the school district at least ten (10) days prior to the first day to file affidavits of candidacy.

4. The notice of said filing dates shall be in substantially the following form:

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 July 14, 2026, and shall close at 5:00 o’clock p.m. on July 28, 2026.

The general election shall be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.  At that election, (3) members will be elected to the School Board for terms of four (4) years each.

Affidavits of Candidacy are available from the school district clerk at 601 Randolph Ave, Fergus Falls, MN. 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 or will be upon assuming office, will have maintained residence in the school district from which the candidate seeks election for thirty (30) days before the general election, and must have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the same primary or next ensuing general election, except as authorized by Minnesota Statutes, section 204B.06, subdivision 9.

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 July 28, 2026.

Whereupon, said Resolution was declared duly adopted by Independent School District No. 544,

(Fergus Falls Public Schools), State of Minnesota, this 22 day of June, 2026

BY ORDER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

/s/ Missy Hermes, School District Clerk

The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, and Missy Hermes;

and the following voted against same: 

None. 

Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted. 

5. First Reading of New School Board Policies:

• Policy 524.5 - PERSONAL ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• Policy 534.5 - STUDENT SNACK GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS

The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:15 am Monday, July 13, 2026 in the Otter Community Room at Kennedy Secondary School; followed by a Strategic Planning Session.

Kirby Anderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 am. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.