Tri-County School District ISD #2358 Regular Board of Education Meeting March 12, 2025

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Murray at 6:00 p.m. A quorum was determined.  

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Members Present were A Anderson ,R Hanson, M Koland, K Helling, S Murray, and K Oliver, D Olson

Members Absent were: None

Also Present was Superintendent McKeever and Principal Englund

We are Proud

Ann 

We are proud of the staff who planned a fun Read Across America week. Rooms, hallways & the cafeteria were decorated. There were dress-up days, Drop-Everything-and-Read, Mystery readers, Guest readers, Book Bingo, awards, and Buddy Reading where every student Pre-K 12th grade were reading together, and other classroom activities. It was a great way to celebrate the love of Reading. 

Erica 

We are incredibly proud of the TC Elementary students and families for their enthusiastic participation in the Book Blast! The event officially launched on Monday, February 24th, with a goal to encourage students and families to reach out to 10 friends and family members for donations. In return, students earned books, and teachers were rewarded with shopping sprees for their classrooms. As of Tuesday, March 4th, we are thrilled to report that 65.83% of our elementary students have participated. Seven teachers have earned shopping sprees—six teachers receiving $100 and one teacher earning $200. The students will receive their books approximately 3-4 weeks after the Book Blast concludes on Sunday, March 9th. A huge thank you to Books Are Fun, the company coordinating this event, for their excellent support throughout the process. Throughout the event, students have enjoyed earning prizes and entering a drawing for three larger rewards. Their excitement has truly made this event a success, and we appreciate everyone’s involvement! Thank you again to all the families and students for your support! 

Brad Thompson 

We are proud of the 7 welding students that participated in the AWS Northern Plains region “Behind the Mask” welding contest on Wednesday March 5th. Students had to read a welding print and weld together an object to exact specifications. They were then judged on the quality of their reading of plans and final product. While we don’t know the exact placement of all 7 students, Grant Rominski earned 3rd place in the MIG contest out of about 60 entrants from as far away as Minot, Mandan, East Grand Forks, and Fargo. The other Tri-County students that participated were; Ozander Andrade, Jax Norberg, Garrett Rominski, Hunter Kazmierczak, Landon Turner, and Stetson Lemmons. Every one of these students completed the object with all the welds finished, which was the goal. This is Tri-County’s first time attending a welding contest. 

We are proud of the Tri-County band students for their great job this year playing pep-band for home games and away at tournaments. The students have represented our school well both home and away and all the help from students to move equipment to and from the gyms has been greatly appreciated. While students do this because I ask them to, I always love it when others thank them for their efforts. This is my opportunity to thank them, and I look forward to many more years of the students providing quality live music for the teams to warm up with

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

Citizen Comments: None

Motion by K Oliver, second by M Koland to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2025 meeting as presented. UC

Pay Claims

Audit Committee: Hanson/Anderson

Motion by M Koland, seconded by S Murray to authorize payment for February, 2025 claims in the funds as presented in the total amount of $ 294,088.79. UC

FUND THIS YEAR PREVIOUS YR

01 GENERAL $62,765.56 $42,473.40

02 FOOD SERVICE $9,349.53 $9,152.54

04 COMMUNITY SERVICE $102.43 $1,200.00

07 DEBT REDEMPTION $0.00 $0.00

21 STUDENT ACTIVITIES $14,598.10 $1,453.37

TOTAL $86,815.62 $54,279.31

Boards & Committee Report

1. NWRIC

2. MCC

3. MSBA

4. GMRTC Joint Powers Board

5. School Board Committees

Superintendent Report – March 12, 2025 

Tri-County Schools 

1) FCCLA State Trip: You will be asked to approve the FCCLA State overnight trip to compete in STAR events in Bloomington March 27-30, 2025. We have a very strong FCCLA program and want to thank Mrs. P for all her hard work and dedication to the program. 

2) ICS Facility Review: I am working with ICS to get a complete review of our facilities for possible cost savings, but to also look into the future to see what else we have for long term needs of our facilities and roofs. With much of the bonding coming off in a couple of years, it makes sense to look at our needs now for possible projects in the next 2-5 years. We are working with ICS and another entity to get a grant to make this facility review process cost free to us. I have submitted the grant and am not just waiting for approval. 

3) Summer Food program: Amy is submitting our application to once again be a site for free summer meals. On the agenda you will be asked to approve the submitting of the application and for us to once again be a host site. It is a very good program for kids. 

4) State Funding Increase: It appears that the cost of inflation index will raise our foundation aid by 2.74% for next year and will be somewhere between 2 and 3% the year after. Minnesota Department of Education published a memorandum last week announcing the inflation adjusted formula allowance. The final adjusted allowance will be a 2.74% increase to the formula, making the FY26 formula allowance $7,481 per adjusted pupil unit (APU). This will be a $200 per APU increase over the formula allowance in FY25. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 126C.10, subdivision 2, sets the general education formula allowance based on CPI changes, ensuring a 2-3% annual increase. The Commissioner must publish it by February’s end. 

5) Adoption of the revised 24-25 budget: SMS and myself have created a better and more user-friendly revenue and expenditure budget. I will present the new revised budget for the 24-25 school year and recommend that it be approved.

Principal Report:

*Read Across America/Book Blast

*READ Act

*MCA test prep

*25-26 Academic calendar-waiting on dates for Letters Training

Motion by K Oliver, second by A Anderson to approve the FCCLA overnight trip March 27-30, 2025 in Bloomington to attend the State FCCLA Conference. UC

Motion by K Helling, second by R Hanson to accept the donations listed below. 

$600.00 from AG Country for boys basketball warm up jerseys. UC

Motion by K Oliver, second by R Hanson, to approve the Tri-County School Food Service program to apply for and participate in the 2025 Summer Food program. UC

Motion by M Koland, second by A Anderson, to approve the revised 2024-2025 budget as presented. UC

Next Regular School Board Meeting: April 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Tri-County School Library in Karlstad, MN

Motion by K Oliver, second by D Olson to adjourn. UC

Respectfully Submitted,

Mark Koland, Board Clerk

Steve Murray, Board Chair

(April 17, 2025)