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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 29 December 2025

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The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room at Kennedy Secondary School. Chair Melanie Cole called the meeting to order at 7:30 am. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes. Kelli Graff and Stephen Vigesaa were absent. Jeff Drake, Superintendent was also present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum. 

Kirby Anderson made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously. 

Melanie Cole offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

• Thank you to Otter Elementary PTO for their donations to Cleveland and Adams Elementary Schools for the One Book One School program

• Thank you to Otter Elementary PTO for their donation to the homeroom classes at Adams Elementary School

• Thank you to Otter Elementary PTO for their donation to Cleveland Elementary School for a hot chocolate event and waterproof journals for the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center classes

• Thank you to Crescent Septic Services LLC for their donation to Mrs. Johnson’s third grade classroom at Mckinley Elementary School

The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes 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. 

Read more: December 22, 2025 board meeting minutes

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 10 December 2025

Hits: 942

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center. Chair Melanie Cole called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes, and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent and Renae Macheledt, Finance Director were also present. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum. 

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously. 

Melanie Cole offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

• Thank you to Otter Elementary PTO for their classroom donations to the teachers at Lincoln School 

• Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Fergus Falls for their donation to the upcoming music trip at Kennedy Secondary School 

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

and the following voted against same: 

None. 

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

PUBLIC MEETING: 

A public meeting regarding the 2026 Technology Plan and Internet Safety Policy began at 5:18 pm in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center. Superintendent Jeff Drake presented information regarding regulations and compliance.

Reports were presented by: 

• Jeff Drake - Superintendent

• Doug Anderson – Facilities Supervisor

• Ed Shea – Mechanical Supervisor

• Kirby Anderson – 544 Education Foundation, Finance

• Jeney Christensen – Activities

• Melanie Cole – Region I, Meet & Confer

• Kelli Graff – MSHSL, Staff Development, Wellness

• Missy Hermes – Curriculum Review, Policy

• Stephen Vigesaa – Building/Grounds

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval: 

1. Minutes from the November 24, 2025 regular School Board meeting 

2. Bills and Treasurer’s Report - reviewed by Jeney Christensen:

3. Personnel

Overload Contracts:

• Jamie Lill, .0303 FTE overload contract for DAPE, 1st trimester

 Support Staff Hire:

• Mara Pausch, behavioral specialist @ elementary schools, effective 01/05/2026 

Support Staff Separation:

• Chastity Pourrier, special education paraprofessional @ Lincoln, effective 11/24/2025

Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

Unfinished Business: 

1. Second Reading of School Board Policies:

• Policy #411: Minnesota Paid Leave Policy

• Policy #305: Policy Implementation

• Policy #306: Administrator Code Of Ethics

•  

 Missy Hermes moved to adopt the policies. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.

New Business: 

1. Jeney Christensen moved to approve the Lakeland Mental Health Center Agreements with ISD #544 – effective 01/01/2026 - 12/31/2026 

• School Based Mental Health Practitioner: Lincoln School, 1 part time provider (1160 hours)

• School Based Mental Health Practitioner: Elementary Schools, 2 full time providers

• School Based Mental Health Practitioner: Elementary Schools, 1 full time provider

• School Based Mental Health/ Chemical Health Practitioner: Senior High and Middle School, 1 full     time provider

• School Based Mental Health Professional: Senior High and Middle School, 1 full time provider

The motion was seconded by  Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

2. Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the Agreement with Lakes Country Service Cooperative in the amount of $35,463 for Direct Mental Health Support to Students – effective 07/01/2025 - 6/30/2026. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously.

3. Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to recess the meeting from 5:50pm to 6:00pm. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.

4. Kirby Anderson made a motion to reopen the meeting at 6:00pm. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.

__________________________________________________________________________________

A public meeting of the Fergus Falls Public Schools’ Taxes Payable 2026 was held at 6:00 pm in the Otter Community Room at Kennedy Secondary School. Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, presented a 

report to the School Board and community.

___________________________________________________________________________________

5. Kirby Anderson moved to approve the Levy for Taxes Payable 2026 in the amount of $7,948,825.97. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously.

The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:30 am Monday, December 22, 2025 in the Otter Community Room at Kennedy Secondary School. 

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 pm. The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and carried unanimously. 

A work session followed the regular board meeting to discuss a request for proposal for naming rights for the Otter Stadium field and an administrative assistant.

Details

Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 28 October 2025

Hits: 1057

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center. Chair, Melanie Cole, called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes, and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, was also present. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Jeney Christensen and carried unanimously. 

Stephen Vigesaa offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

Thank you to: 

• Fergus Falls 544 Education Foundation for their generous donation of grant funding to Fergus Falls Public Schools

• Christine Uggerud and family for their donation of pumpkins to the 7th grade teaching team and students for their relay at Kennedy Secondary School

• Lake Region Healthcare for their generous donation to the CNA program at Fergus Falls Public Schools

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

and the following voted against same: 

None. 

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

Reports were presented by: 

Read more: October 27, 2025 board meeting minutes

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 14 October 2025

Hits: 1138

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center. Chair, Melanie Cole, called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Kelli Graff, and Stephen Vigesaa. Missy Hermes and Jeff Drake, Superintendent, were absent.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Kirby Anderson, acting clerk, established a quorum. 

Kirby Anderson made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

Melanie Cole offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

Thank you to:

• Otter Elementary PTO for their donation to purchase the Essential Elements Music subscription for McKinley Elementary School

• Steven and Shelley Schoeneck for their donation to provide safety stools for the STEM room at Lincoln School

• William Swanson and family for their donation to the senior high student council for the homecoming royalty meal at Kennedy Secondary School

• Fergus Falls 544 Education Foundation for their donation to fulfill the classroom wish lists at Fergus Falls Public Schools and their generous donation of items to the Otter Closet

• The family of Sharon Amundson-Johnson for their donation to the 2nd grade at Adams and McKinley Schools 

• The family of Sharon Amundson-Johnson for their donation to Cleveland Elementary School

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

and the following voted against same: 

None. 

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

Reports were presented by: 

Read more: October 13, 2025 board meeting minutes

Details

Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 23 September 2025

Hits: 1196

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Community Ed Room at Roosevelt Education Center. Chair, Melanie Cole, called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes, and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, was also present. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.

Jeney Christensen made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.  

Reports were presented by: 

• Jon Steinbrenner – Elementary Principal (Lincoln)

• Scott Colbeck – Elementary Principal (Adams/McKinley)

• Tindy Rund – Elementary Principal (Cleveland)

• Ivan Hirst – Middle School Principal

• Mark Anderson – High School Principal

• Jeff Drake – Superintendent

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval: 

1. Minutes from September 8, 2025 regular board meeting 

2. Bills (September 9 - 22, 2025) reviewed by Jeney Christensen and Missy Hermes

3. Personnel

Certified Staff Hires:

• Barb Huffman, ESL teacher-contract adjustment to .6737 FTE; effective 8/25/2025

Support Staff Hires:

Read more: September 22, 2025 board meeting minutes