Tri-County School District ISD #2358 Regular Board of Education Meeting December 11, 2024

Tri-County School District ISD #2358  

Regular Board of Education Meeting

December 11, 2024

Tri-County School Library

Karlstad, Minnesota

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Murray at 6:30 p.m. A quorum was determined.  

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Members Present were H Burkel ,R Hanson, M Koland, S Murray, D Olson, D Sollund ,and K Oliver.

Members Absent were: None

Also Present was Superintendent McKeever.

We are Proud

• Gary Taylor: We are Proud of football player Straet Spilde.  Straet was selected to the All-District - District 9 West, Sub-District North Football Team.

• Ann Thompson: We are proud of the 4th grade students.  They were awarded $250 from Kidson Cares to “give back” to their school.  After discussion, research, and compromise, the students came up with the idea of getting a Buddy Bench for the playground.  A matching donation of $250 allowed them to get a great bench that will last in the extreme weather.  Once it arrives, they will assemble it (with the help of some shop students) and educate the other elementary classes about the purpose of the Buddy Bench.  If a student doesn’t have someone to play with at recess, they can sit on the Buddy Bench.  This is a cue for others to ask them to play.  It can also be used for students to sit and work out disagreements.

• Dalia Englund: Thank you to the Oliver Family for the monetary donation ($250) to help purchase the “buddy bench” for our playground.

Thank you to the class of 1995 for the purchase of playground toys and sports equipment for our students to enjoy at recess. 

• Brad Thompson: We are proud of the 6-12 band students and the 7-12 choir students for their excellent performances at the Christmas concert on Thursday, December 5th.  You could tell they spent a lot of time on rehearsals and were very focused when they performed.  Wonderful job Tri-County Music students!

• Gary Taylor: We are proud of the 2024-2025 ExCEL (Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership) award winner, Dannica Erickson.  Dannica is a member of the Northern Freeze softball and volleyball teams, is active in both band and choir, is a class officer, is on the yearbook staff, and has represented Tri-County in the Envirothon, FCCLA, the TEAM-UP sophomore leadership conference, and is a member the SALT (Student Advisory and Leadership Team) that recently went to the Together 3.0 Leadership Conference sponsored by the MSHSL.  Dannica has worked every community service day for Tri-County, has volunteered to work “The Longest Table”, and is in her third year serving as a Peer Buddy.  She believes Peer Buddies is perhaps one of the most important programs in our school.  Making sure the younger kids know that an older student cares about them and the fact she can be an influence in their lives is important to Dannica.  This award is sponsored by the MSHSL

Motion by member K Oliver second by member R Hanson to approve the agenda as presented. UC

Auditor presentation by Brady Martz & Associates

Motion by D Sollund, second by H Burkel to approve the audit as presented by Brady Martz & Associates. UC

Truth in Taxation Hearing

Citizen Comments: None

Motion by K Oliver, seconded by S Murray to approve the minutes of the November 13, 2024 Regular Meeting as presented. UC

Pay Claims

Audit Committee: Olson/Koland

Motion by M Koland, seconded by D Olson to authorize payment for December, 2024 claims in the funds as presented in the total amount of $ 64,295.07. UC

FUND THIS YEAR PREVIOUS YR

01 GENERAL $51,354.33 $51,406.62

02 FOOD SERVICE $6,600.61 $12,163.67

04 COMMUNITY SERVICE $33.00 $28.83

07 DEBT REDEMPTION $1,000.00 $125,725.00

21 STUDENT ACTIVITIES $5,307.13         $4,048.81

TOTAL $64,295.07 $193,372.93 

Superintendent Report – December 11, 2024 

1) I have assembled the certified seniority list for certified staff to review and alert me of any changes or discrepancies. Once they have had time to review it, I will bring it forward in January for approval and adoption. 

2) The auditor from Brady Martz & Associates will be meeting with us via Google Meets during the early portion of our meeting. This will be followed immediately by a Truth in Taxation meeting conducted by Dawn Sundbulte of School Management Services. There will be time given for public input from the community if needed or asked for. 

3) You will be asked during the meeting to approve the Resolution to Levy $821,134.57 for taxes 2025 payable 2026. I will print the levy certification sheet that needs to be signed and sent to the respective counties. 

4) I also recommend passing the annual resolution to combine polling places. This is an annual item that allows us to combine polling places to one location should we need to have an election away from a general election time for such things as a building bond. 

5) The sign for the steel has arrived at the school and Brad will weld the frame and install it on our original signposts. Once completed, the sign company will attach the new sign to the frame. 

6) Bus/Vehicle Inspection went very well. Almost all vehicles passed the inspection except for a bus with a steering issue that will need to be looked at. The only other item noted was some tires on the van that were very close to needing to be replaced so I directed Jaron to get it completed now as we enter the bad weather phase of travel. 

7) Kade Bass has resigned as our Technology coordinator, his last day with us will be December 31, 2024. He will continue to drive bus as needed. I am exploring ways to find a candidate that meets the needs of our school in a cost-effective manner. 

I will also have ballots for the Region I Joint Powers Board election available at the December meeting. Mark Koland has again filed as a candidate for this board. 

Reminder: The January 8, 2025 meeting will be filled with a few things to accomplish. Two new board members will be joining us and we will need to reorganize the board. We also need to elect officers and reconfigure committee assignments. We also need to designate district depositories, select an official newspaper, select legal counsel, set board compensation, and set meeting schedule for the year.

Motion by H Burkel, second by D Olson to accept all donations listed below.  UC

$250.00 From Karrah and Chris Oliver for Buddy Bench

Motion by D Sollund, second by R Hanson to approve the resolution to levy $821,134.57 for 2025 payable in 2026 School Tax Levy. UC

Approve the annual resolution to Combine Polling Places

Required by law passed during the 2017 Legislative Session.  If the Board chooses to run an election (i.e. Bond Facility), the School District is responsible for all cost aspects (process, election equipment, election judges, protocol) of the election. 

Note:  A resolution similar to this model resolution must be adopted by December 31 of each year, and the combined polling places specified shall be the combined polling places for the following calendar year.

Board Member Mark Koland introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COMBINED POLLING PLACES

FOR MULTIPLE PRECINCTS AND

DESIGNATING HOURS DURING WHICH THE POLLING

PLACES WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR VOTING

FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS NOT HELD

ON THE DAY OF A STATEWIDE ELECTION

     BE IS RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 2358 State of Minnesota, as follows:

     1. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the precincts and polling places for school district elections are those precincts or parts of precincts located within the boundaries of the school district which have been established by the cities or towns located in whole or in part within the school district.  The board hereby confirms those precincts and polling places so established by those municipalities.

     2. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the board may establish a combined polling place for several precincts for school district elections not held on the day of a statewide election.  Each combined polling place must be a polling place that has been designated by a county or municipality.  The following combined polling places are established to serve the precincts specified for all school district special and general elections not held on the same day as a statewide election:

Combined Polling Place:  Karlstad Community Center 104 Main Street Karlstad, MN 56732.

“This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 2358, located in the City of Strandquist; and Augsburg, East Park, Lincoln, Nelson Park, New Maine, West Valley, Wright, and Huntly townships of Marshall County, Minnesota.  This combined polling place serves all territory in the ISD 2358 located in the cities of Halma, Karlstad, and Lake Bronson; and Arveson, Davis, Deerwood, Springbrook, Hazelton, Klondike, Norway, Pelan, Percy, Jupiter, and Tegner townships; Kittson County, Minnesota.

     3. Pursuant to Minnesota Statues, Section 205A.09, the polling places will open for voting for school district elections not held on the same day as a statewide election between the hours of 7:00 o’clock a.m. and 8:00 o’clock p.m.

     4. The clerk is directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the county auditors of each of the counties in which the school district is located, in whole or in part, within thirty (30) days after its adoption.

     5. As required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 204B.16, Subdivision 1a, the clerk is hereby authorized and directed to give written notice of new polling place locations to each affected household with at least one registered voter in the school district whose school district polling place location ha been changed.  The notice must be a non-forwardable notice mailed at least twenty-five (25) days before the date of the first election to which it will apply.  A notice that is returned as undeliverable must be forwarded immediately to the appropriate county auditor, who shall change the registrant’s status to “challenged” in the stateside registration system.

The motion for the adoption of the foregoing solution was duly seconded by Board Member Karrah Oliver and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: R Hanson, D Sollund, D Olson, H Burkel, S Murray, M Koland, and K Oliver.

and the following voted against the same:None

whereupon said resolution was declared duty Passed and Adopted. 

Motion by K Oliver, second by S Murray to accept the resignation of Kade Bass as technology coordinator and direct administration to fill the position. UC

Next Regular School Board Meeting: Next Regular School Board Meeting: January 8, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at   Tri County School Library in Karlstad, MN.

Motion by H Burkel, second by D Sollund to adjourn. UC

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Mark Koland, Board Clerk _

Steve Murray, Board Chair

(January 22, 2025)