In a decision, the board approved the use of charter buses for student athletes traveling to events that are more than 100 miles away and for section playoff games. This decision came after discussions about the discomfort and logistical challenges posed by yellow school buses, especially for transporting large equipment and during extreme weather conditions. One participant highlighted the lack of air conditioning on yellow buses, making travel uncomfortable during hot weather.

The board emphasized the necessity of providing comfortable and safe transportation for students, noting that the funds for charter buses were available. However, they also considered the fairness to taxpayers and the costs involved. The approval of charter buses aimed to standardize transportation options across various teams and activities.

The conversation also touched on the logistics of transporting sports equipment, particularly for teams like football and gymnastics, which require more space. Suggestions were made to utilize trailers for equipment transport, but it was acknowledged that certain sports would still need charter buses due to the volume of gear.

In addition to the transportation decision, the board discussed several other topics. Kyle Vand, representing the local trap shooting team, addressed the board about establishing a high school trap shooting league for the upcoming spring season. Vand requested the board’s permission to start an account with the high school trap league and discussed the need for an insurance policy to cover participants during tournaments. The board acknowledged the interest in the program and confirmed that it would be included as an action item later in the agenda.

A presentation from Trimco Roofing, represented by Carrie Hacker and Brandon Kuo, provided an update on the ongoing evaluation of the school’s roofing systems. The project, which has been in progress for over a year, is currently in the design phase, with architectural drawings and specifications expected to be ready for bidding by mid to late September. The roofing work is planned to be executed over two summers, addressing both roofing and facade issues simultaneously. The board expressed concerns about how leaks and facade repairs would be managed and emphasized the importance of staging to prevent damage during the project.

The board also reviewed the school district’s financials, noting a cash balance of $7.8 million and a budget utilization of 98% year-to-date. Discussions about bond money earmarked for roofing repairs highlighted the importance of timely expenditure, with funds needing to be spent by late September.

A point raised during the meeting was the grant for voluntary pre-kindergarten, which had been uncertain in its availability. The district received the grant for the 2023-2024 academic year and would continue to receive it for the 2024-2025 year, allowing the district to offer tuition-free preschool for all students.

Staffing updates were also provided, with excitement expressed about being fully staffed for the upcoming school year. The middle and high school reported the hiring of five new teachers, and a pilot reading intervention program called Reading Plus was introduced for sixth graders. The program aims to personalize learning based on individual reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary acquisition levels.

The board discussed the importance of improving the registration process for high school students, committing to conduct one-on-one meetings with each student before the end of the school year to alleviate anxiety associated with scheduling issues.

Administrative updates included the projected enrollment for the school year, estimated at around 1,101 students, and recognition of school board members in honor of Minnesota School Board Recognition Month. The board also approved several policies related to equal opportunity employment, out-of-state travel for board members, and a tobacco-free environment.

Lastly, the board addressed changes stemming from the last master agreement, emphasizing the need to rectify issues related to compensation for supervising PE classes during prep time and teacher compensation for letters training.