Public Meeting Agenda: September 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

III. DISTRICT POINTS OF PRIDE

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Rick Sansted will share with the board the "206 Points of Pride." The persons being recognized this month are as follows:

Meghan Orgeman was honored as Class 2A Coach of the Year by the MN Track & Field Coaches Association.

Athletes recognized this past month as Central Lakes Conference Performers of the Week in their respective sport include:

Eloise Homelvig - Girls Soccer: scored 2 goals (1 was a header from the corner)
Quinn Hills - Cross Country: placed 2^nd at Brainerd with a time of 20:11

Forty-eight Alexandria Area High School graduates and current students have been named 2025 AP Scholars based on their performance on Advanced Placement (AP) exams. The awards given and students recognized include:

AP Scholar designation was granted to Mia Black, Allison Boe, Damian Brezina, Cora Bumgarner, David Close, Braden Cox, Lars Dahl, Thomas Dutcher, Nicholas Hamann, Sigfried Henrich, Atti Hoven, Nolan Lucy, Joshua Makalinao, Dominic Maus, Bronson Prescott, Ethan Schlangen, Aili Schultz, Niklas Schultz, Jocelyn Trautman and Abby Walz, along with twelve 2025 graduates who received scores of 3 or higher on three or more of the exams.
AP Scholar with Honor was granted to Aaron Bjerkaas, Jackson Dutcher, Madeline Langendoerfer, Alondra Munoz Cortes, Julian Ramos, Erik Rodewald and Alex Rodriguez, along with three 2025 graduates for achieving an average of at least 3.25 on all exams given and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
AP Scholar with Distinction was given to Samara Groetsch, Carter Olson, William Wagner and Ning Zhang, along with two 2025 graduates who received an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and a score of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Senior Ning Zhang has been named a 2026 National Merit Scholar Semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Program. This program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA

Presenter: Rick Sansted

IV.A. APPROVE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON AUGUST 18, 2025

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The following pages provide a copy of the minutes from the August 18, 2025 regular board meeting.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the board approve the minutes as printed.

IV.B. APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS FOR AUGUST 2025

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Because of the many year-end accounting adjustments and entries that need to be made, the financial reports for August 2025 will be presented when the number accurately reflects fiscal year 2024-2025 activities.

The listing of bills for payment is the last attachment to this agenda.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the board approve the payment of bills for August 2025.

IV.C. APPROVE PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Presenter: Jessie Hjelle

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Personnel recommendations are made monthly. The conditional offers of employment are subject to successful completion of a criminal background check and I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, and where applicable, the issuance of the required license.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the board approve the personnel recommendations as presented on the following pages.

IV.D. APPROVE SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The administration recommends that the school board approve the submission of the following:

Grant application to the State of MN for $100,000 to enhance overall cyber security posture.
Grant application to the Alexandria Area Community Foundation for $24,700 to support Discovery Middle School and Woodland Elementary School in creating an improved sense of belonging for all students and families.
Grant application to the Minnesota Opioid Settlement Grant Program for $55,764 to fund a full-time Career Readiness Intervention Paraprofessional who will monitor daily Career Readiness Scores, identify students needing Intensive Support Interventions and coordinate with families and community partners to support at-risk youth.
Grant application to CenterPoint Energy/Raising a Reader for $11,500 to provide weekly library books and parent education information for preschoolers to borrow through Raising a Reader.
Grant application to the MN Historical Society for $6,000 to increase access for out-state schools to visit the MN historical sites in the Twin Cities by offsetting costs for transportation and entrance fees.
Grant application to the MAELC (Minnesota Agriculture Education Leadership Council) for $10,000 to fund the purchase of new lights for the greenhouse.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the school board approve the resolution to submit the grant applications and donation requests.

IV.E. ADOPT RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT DONATIONS AND GRANTS

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

As per district policy, the board is required to approve the submission and acceptance of donations and grants to the district that exceed $1,000.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the school board approve the attached resolution accepting grants and donations to the school district.

IV.F. APPROVE EXTENDED FIELD TRIPS

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

As per district policy, the board is required to approve all fundraising activities.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration is recommending that the school board approve the following fundraiser:

The DECA students will solicit donations from local businesses, participate in a burger challenge and sell homecoming t-shirts to raise money to help offset costs for the DECA program.
The FFA students will conduct their annual fruit sales in October and November 2025 to help fund student activities through FFA.
Carlos Elementary School 5^th Grade students will conduct a car wash to raise money for their Deep Portage field trip.

IV.G. APPROVE FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

As per district policy, the board is required to approve all fundraising activities.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration is recommending that the school board approve the following fundraiser:

The DECA students will solicit donations from local businesses, participate in a burger challenge and sell homecoming t-shirts to raise money to help offset costs for the DECA program.
The FFA students will conduct their annual fruit sales in October and November 2025 to help fund student activities through FFA.

IV.H. APPROVE FIRST READING OF DISTRICT POLICIES

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The following pages provide suggested policy additions or policy revisions for first reading. Administration will review the policies at the meeting.

Policy 409 - Employee Publications, Instructional Materials, Inventions, Creations and Presentations
Policy 411 - Employment Procedures
Policy 412 - Training of New Employees
Policy 417 - Chemical Use and Abuse
Policy 419 - Tobacco-Free Environment; Possession and Use of Tobacco, Tobacco-Related Devices and Electronic Delivery Devices; Vaping Awareness and Prevention Instruction
Policy 420/540 - Students and Employees with Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases and Certain Other Communicable Diseases and Infectious Conditions
Policy 421/706.1 - Gifts to Employees and School Board Members

The Curriculum/Policy Committee reviewed the policies at their committee meeting and supports the additions and revisions.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the board approve the first reading of the policies listed above.

IV.I. ADOPT DISTRICT POLICIES

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The following policies received a first reading at the Sugust 2025 board meeting:

Policy 416 - Drug, Alcohol and Cannabis Testing
Policy 472 - Employee Referral Program

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the board adopt Policies 416 and 472.

IV.J. APPROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Annually, the school board approves educational agreements between the District and various consultants, agencies and service providers.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the board approve the following agreements:

Comprehensive Partnership Agreement between Alexandria Technical and Community College and Alexandria Public Schools beginning August 25, 2025 through May 13, 2026
Post Secondary Enrollment Options Contract between Northland Community & Technical College and Alexandria Public Schools for the 2025-2026 school year

V. REPORTS/DISCUSSION ITEMS

V.A. HEALTH SERVICES UPDATE

Presenter: Michelle Bethke-Kaliher

Description: INFORMATION:

Michelle Bethke-Kaliher, Director of Student Support Services, will provide information on the Health Services program in the school district. A question and answer time will be provided at the meeting.

No formal action is expected.

VI. ACTION ITEMS

VI.A. APPROVE 2025 PAYABLE 2026 PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Margo Bauck, CESO Consultant, will provide a summary of the 2025 Payable 2026 preliminary property tax levy information and answer questions regarding the levy proposal. The summary is an overview of the state levy document that involves many pages of data and computations.

Further discussion will take place at the time of the meeting.

RECOMMENDATION:

The administration recommends the board approve the preliminary property tax levy for 2025 Payable 2026 at the maximum state allowable amount.

VI.B. APPROVE DESIGNATED PERSONNEL FOR ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFERS

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Based on a recommendation from the district’s audit firm, the administration is recommending that the board delegate authority to the Payroll Technician and CESO Designee to initiate electronic fund transfers and to invest District funds.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve delegating authority to the Payroll Technician and CESO Designee to initiate electronic fund transfers and to invest District funds.

VI.C. ADOPT RESOLUTION APPOINTING ELECTION JUDGES

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The attachment provides the Resolution Appointing Election Judges for the School District Special Election to be held November 4, 2025. The administration recommends that the board adopt the resolution as required by law.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt the Resolution Appointing Election Judges for the School District Special Election to be held November 4, 2025.

VII. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

Presenter: Rick Sansted

Description: INFORMATION

The district administrative team will provide informational updates to the board at the meeting.

The following pages provide the minutes of recent meetings of the Personnel/Negotiation Committee, Curriculum/Policy Committee and the Budget/Facilities Committee.

Also, school board members will share information and other updates as appropriate.

VII.A. ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

VII.B. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

VII.C. SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

VII.D. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

VIII. DELEGATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

IX. ADJOURNMENT

September 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

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