Melanie Cole, Chair
Committees: Region I Board; Meet & Confer; Buildings & Grounds; Personnel
Negotiations: Certified Staff; Special Education Paraprofessionals; Districtwide Individual Contracts; Secretaries/Custodians
Term ends: 2026
Email: mcole@fergusotters.org
Phone: 218-205-4854
Jeney Christensen, Vice Chair
Committees: Buildings & Grounds; Activities; Policy
Negotiations: Principals
Term ends: 2028
Stephen Vigesaa, Treasurer
Committees: Finance; Personnel
Negotiations: Certified Staff
Term ends: 2028
Email: svigesaa@fergusotters.org
Phone: 507-993-5941
Melissa Hermes, Clerk
Committees: Curriculum Review; Policy; Personnel
Negotiations: Food Service; Certified Staff
Term ends: 2026
Email: mhermes@fergusotters.org
Kirby Anderson
Committees: Finance; 544 Education Foundation; Activities
Negotiations: Principals
Term ends: 2026
Email: kirbyanderson@fergusotters.org
Phone: 218-770-7161
Kelli Graff
Committees: Buildings & Grounds; Wellness; Staff Development
Negotiations: Title 1 Paras & Para Educators
Term ends: 2028
Email: kelligraff@fergusotters.org
- Details
- Written by: Jesse Thorstad
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 1224
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. Vice Chair Melanie Cole called the meeting to order at 7:50 am. The following members were present: Melanie Cole, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa. Kirby Anderson and Natalie Knutson were absent. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.Â
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.Â
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.Â
Stephen Vigesaa moved to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.Â
New Business:Â
- Melanie Cole moved the adoption of the following resolution:
RESOLUTION CANVASSING RETURNS OF VOTES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 544, State of Minnesota, as follows:
- It is hereby found, determined and declared that the special election of the voters of this School District held on May 14, 2024, was in all respects duly and legally called and held.
- As specified in the attached Abstract and Return of Votes Cast, at said election a total of 3,603 voters of the School District voted on the question of authorizing the issuance of school building bonds for a school acquisition and betterment program (Shall the school board of Independent School District No. 544 / Fergus Falls Public Schools be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $54,820,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of a new grades 3-5 elementary school facility?) of which 1,341 voted in favor, 2,262 voted against the same. Said proposition, having not received the approval of at least a majority of such votes, is hereby declared to have failed.
- The Clerk is hereby directed to certify the results of the election to the county auditors of each county in which the School District is located in whole or in part and to the Commissioner of Education.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Stephen Vigesaa and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Melanie Cole, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa
and the following voted against the same: None
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
The next regular School Board meeting will be held at 7:15 am Tuesday, May 28, 2024 in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School.Â
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 am. The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.
- Details
- Written by: Missy Hermes
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 1491
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.Â
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.Â
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.Â
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.Â
Missy Hermes offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
- Details
- Written by: Matthew Lemke
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 1568
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, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa. Missy (Melissa) Hermes was absent. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.Â
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.Â
Matthew Lemke, acting clerk, established a quorum.
Kirby Anderson made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.Â
Stephen Vigesaa offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
Thank you to West Central Initiative for the grant awarded to the Occupational Therapy Department for Sensory Materials and to the Otter PTO for their donations to McKinley & Cleveland Elementary schools.Â
The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa;Â
and the following voted against same:Â
None.Â
- Details
- Written by: Missy Hermes
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 1337
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, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa. Melanie Cole was absent. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.Â
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.Â
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.Â
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.Â
Kirby Anderson offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
Thank you to the Otter PTO for their donation for books to Cleveland Elementary School.
The motion was seconded by Missy Hermes and upon roll call vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Kirby Anderson, Missy Hermes, Natalie Knutson, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa;Â
and the following voted against same:Â
None.Â
Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted. Â
Reports were presented by:Â
- Details
- Written by: Missy Hermes
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 1421
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. Vice-Chair Melanie Cole called the meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The following members were present: Kirby Anderson, Melanie Cole, Missy (Melissa) Hermes, Matthew Lemke, and Stephen Vigesaa. Natalie Knutson was absent. Jeff Drake, Superintendent, Renae Macheledt, Finance Director, and Elaine Jahnke, HR Director, were also present.Â
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.Â
________________________________________________________________________________
PUBLIC MEETINGÂ
A public meeting regarding a discussion and presentation of the Commissioner’s Review and Comment on Proposed Building Bonds, presented by Superintendent Jeff Drake, began at 5:16 pm in the Otter Community Room at the Kennedy Secondary School.
________________________________________________________________________________
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.Â
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Matthew Lemke and carried unanimously.Â
- Details
- Written by: Missy Hermes
- Parent Category: School Board
- Category: Meeting Minutes
- Hits: 1648
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 5:15 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.Â
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.Â
Missy Hermes, clerk, established a quorum.Â
Stephen Vigesaa made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Melanie Cole and carried unanimously.Â
Melanie Cole offered the resolution of acknowledgements for the following and moved for its adoption:
Thank you to the Otter PTO for their donation to the Lincoln School kindergarten playground, and Linda Sander for the clarinet donated to the Band Department. Â
The motion was seconded by Kirby Anderson 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;Â
and the following voted against same:Â
None.Â
Whereupon said motion was declared duly passed and the resolution adopted. Â
- February 26, 2024 board meeting minutes
- February 12, 2024 Board meeting minutes
- January 22, 2024 Board Meeting minutes
- January 8, 2024 board meeting minutes
- 2024 Reorganization School Board Meeting
- Special School Board Meeting minutes
- December 11, 2023 board meeting minutes
- November 27, 2023 board minutes
- November 13, 2023 board meeting minutes
- November 6, 2023 School Board Special Meeting minutes
Subcategories
Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the meetings of the Fergus Falls Public Schools School Board.