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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 11 August 2025

Hits: 1458

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 7:15 am. 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. 

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

Jeney Christensen offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

Thank you to: Otter Elementary PTO for their donation to Mrs. Kinrade’s classroom library at Cleveland Elementary School, BW Integrated Systems for their donation of steel to the welding program at Fergus Falls Public Schools, and to Lakes Country Service Cooperative for their generous donation of an enclosed trailer to the Fergus Falls CTE Program at Fergus Falls Public Schools.

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.  

Reports were presented by: 

Read more: August 11, 2025 board meeting minutes

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 28 July 2025

Hits: 1261

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room, Kennedy Secondary School. Chair, Melanie Cole, called the meeting to order at 7:15 am. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Kelli Graff, Missy Hermes and Stephen Vigesaa. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, was not present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum. 

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

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval: 

1. Minutes from the July 14, 2025 regular School Board meeting.

2. Bills (July 14 - 28, 2025)

3. Personnel

Certified Staff Hire:

• Kari Tollerson, LT Substitute 3rd Grade @ Adams, 08/25/25 - 11/19/25

• Emily Malikowski, Elementary RTI Teacher @ Adams and Kennedy School /Middle School, effective 08/25/2025 

Internal Transfers effective 2025-26 school year:

• Rebecca Cederberg transfer from special education paraprofessional to para educator - media  

Support Staff Hire:

• Sydney Overbo, Food Service Assistant Server @ McKinley, effective 08/25/2025

• Tracy Holdeman, Special Education Paraprofessional @ McKinley, effective 08/27/2025

  Read more: July 28, 2025 board meeting minutes

Details

Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 14 July 2025

Hits: 1442

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room, Kennedy Secondary School. Chair, Melanie Cole, called the meeting to order at 7:15 am. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes and Stephen Vigesaa. Kelli Graff was absent. 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 th

Read more: July 14, 2025 board meeting minutes

Details

Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 23 June 2025

Hits: 1247

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room, Kennedy Secondary School. Chair, Melanie Cole, called the meeting to order at 7:15 am. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Jeney Christensen, Melanie Cole, Kelli Graff, and Missy Hermes. Stephen Vigesaa was 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 Kelli Graff and carried unanimously. 

Jeney Christensen offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

Thank you to the following: 

• West Central Initiative for the WCI Prairie Restoration Initiative grant. This grant will help fund the Rooted In History, Growing Our Future prairie restoration project near Lincoln School.

• Kiwanis Club of Otter Risers for their donation to the Rooted In History, Growing Our Future, Lincoln Prairie Restoration Project. 

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, and Missy Hermes; 

and the following voted against same: 

None. 

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

Read more: June 23, 2025 board meeting minutes

Details

Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 27 May 2025

Hits: 1339

The regular meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 544 was held in the Otter Community Room, Kennedy Secondary School. Chair, Melanie Cole, called the meeting to order at 7:15 am. 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.

Kirby Anderson 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 the following: 

• Otter Elementary PTO for their donation to Cleveland School for the X-tra Math subscription.

• Otter Elementary PTO for their donation to the classrooms at Lincoln School.

• Kristin Tuel for their donation to the ALC Advisory Board, in memory of Neesa Voller, at the Area Learning Center.

  Read more: May 27, 2025 board meeting minutes