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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 11 September 2024

Hits: 1288

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. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. 

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum. 

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

Kirby Anderson offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:

Thank you to FF 544 Education Foundation for their generous donation towards the KSS sound system and playground equipment at Lincoln School.

 The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa; 

and the following voted against same: 

None. 

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

Read more: Sept. 9, 2024 board meeting minutes

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 13 August 2024

Hits: 1714

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 7:15 am. 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. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. 

Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum. 

Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole 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 towards a basketball hoop at McKinley school; and to Darcy Koeckeritz for her donation of winter apparel for students.

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

and the following voted against same: 

None. 

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

Read more: August 12, 2024 board meeting minutes

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 08 July 2024

Hits: 1153

A work session preceded the special School Board meeting at 6:45 am to discuss a new elementary school / bond referendum - tentatively set for the November General Election.

A special 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 7:48 am. 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. 

Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously. 

New Business: 

None

The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:15 am Monday, July 15, 2024 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School, followed by a School Board Retreat at the Lincoln School’s Conference Room. 

Kirby Anderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 am. The motion was seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and carried unanimously.

Details

Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 10 June 2024

Hits: 1495

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 7:15 am. 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. 

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

Thank you to Charles & Linda MacFarlane, TK Property Management, & Timothy & Penny Rogelstad for their donations to the ALC Student Advisory. 

Read more: June 10, 2024 board minutes

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Written by: Missy Hermes

Parent Category: School Board

Category: Meeting Minutes

Published: 28 May 2024

Hits: 1200

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 7:15 am. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Natalie Knutson, and Matthew Lemke. Melanie Cole and Stephen Vigesaa were absent. 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. 

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

No acknowledgements were presented. 

Reports were presented by: 

• Scott Colbeck - Elementary Principal (Adams/McKinley)
• Tindy Rund - Elementary Principal (Cleveland)
• Ivan Hirst – Middle School Principal
• Jeff Drake - High School (for Principal Mark Anderson); Superintendent

General Consent Items

The following consent agenda was presented for approval: 

1. Minutes from the regular School Board meeting held on May 13, 2024 and the special School Board meeting held on May 20, 2024
2. Bills (May 14 - 28, 2024) 
3. Personnel

2024-25 Certified Staff Hire:

• Chloe Nelson, language arts teacher; effective 8/26/2024

2024-25 Certified Staff Resignation:

• Nathan Dragseth, PE/Health teacher @ KSS; effective end of 2023-24 school year

Support Staff Resignation:

• Amy Toy, Hall Supervisor @ KSS; effective 5/23/2024

Support Staff Hires:

• Amy Toy, counseling office assistant/district facilities coordinator @ KSS; effective 2024-25 school year
• Roberta (Robbie) Schake, HR/Payroll Specialist @ District Office; effective 6/10/2024

  Read more: May 28, 2024 board meeting minutes