January 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM - School Board Meeting

1. Call meeting to order by the chairperson

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. *Comments from visitors

4.A.

• Comments from visitors must be in relation to Aitkin Public Schools and/or to agenda items.
• We recommend that you sign up at the comment table if you wish to speak. You will be called up in order as listed on the sign-up sheet. When you come forward to comment, please be seated at the comment table facing the Board Members. State your name prior to your comment. Comments will be limited to 5 minutes.
• The Board will not engage in any discussion or debate during this comment session. The Board will take the information and find answers as appropriate.
• As part of Board protocol, it is unacceptable for any speaker to slander or engage in character assassination at a public board meeting. 

5. Approval of agenda - revise or remove as needed

5.A. Oath of Office: Brian Leitinger, Cindi Hills, Dawn Houser

5.B. Election of officers for 2025:

5.B.1. Call for nominations for chair

5.B.1.a. Close nominations and vote

5.B.2. Call for nomination for vice chair

5.B.2.a. Close nominations and vote

5.B.3. Call for nominations for clerk

5.B.3.a. Close nominations and vote

5.B.4. Call for nominations for treasurer

5.B.4.a. Close nominations and vote

5.B.5. Chair seats the members

5.C. Establish meeting dates, time and place for 2025. The third Monday of each month has been designated in the past except for January and February (both moved ahead a week due to holidays). 

5.C.1. Discuss and determine Malmo (June) and Palisade (October) meetings for 2025. No streaming available. 

5.D. Conduct other business: 

5.D.1. Authorize updates to and use of 2025 computerized signature files. Authorize use of the 2024 signatures until updates are complete. 

5.D.2. Authorize Heather Hipp and Karen Carlson to stop payments on checks for all District Accounts.

5.D.3. Designate school attorneys without retainer - Ryan & Brucker, Ltd., Kennedy & Graven, and Pemberton Law represented ISD #1 this past year. 

5.D.4. Name the Aitkin Independent Age the official school district newspaper.

5.D.5. Designate the District Director of the Budget, Purchasing Agent and authority to make electronic fund transfers.  Consideration should be given to designating the Business Manager as the Director of the District Budget, Purchasing Agent, and authority to make electronic fund transfers.

5.D.6. Authorize the Superintendent to sign contracts and other documents.

5.D.7. Appoint Business Manager, Heather Hipp, to sign on all bank accounts.

5.D.8. Set the salaries for board members. 

5.D.8.a. Chairperson $275 per month

5.D.8.b. Vice Chairperson $250 per month

5.D.8.c. Clerk $250 per month

5.D.8.d. Treasurer $265 per month

5.D.8.e. Director (3) $250 per month

5.D.8.f. Negotiators:  $15 per hour in actual meeting with employees

5.D.8.g. Out of District:  $12 per hour up to $75 a day

5.D.8.h. Dental insurance:  $30 per month

5.D.8.i. Health and life insurance:  Available at board members' expense

5.D.9. Designate depositories for school funds. The following banks should be named depositories: 

5.D.9.a. General Account Security State Bank, Aitkin, MN  & MSDLAF

5.D.9.b. Payroll Account:  Security State Bank, Aitkin, MN 

5.D.9.c. Petty Cash Account:           Security State Bank, Aitkin, MN 

5.D.9.d. Flex Account:  Security State Bank, Aitkin, MN 

5.D.9.e. Food Service: Security State Bank, Aitkin, MN 

5.D.9.f. Community Education:  Security State Bank, Aitkin, MN 

5.D.9.g. Investments:

5.D.9.g.1. Bremer Bank, Aitkin, MN

5.D.9.g.2. Security State Bank, Aitkin, MN

5.D.9.g.3. Members Cooperative Credit Union, Aitkin, MN

5.D.9.g.4. MSDLAF

5.D.9.g.5. U.S. Bank, Minneapolis, MN

5.D.9.g.6. PMA Financial Network (MN Trust and Associated Bank)

5.D.9.g.7. Zion's Bank, Zions Bancorporation, N.A.

6. Scheduled presentations: (Max. 10 Minutes)

6.A. Student Council Reports
SP Goal 10

6.B. Science Curriculum Review/Update

7. New business:

7.A. Approve consent agenda items as follows:

7.A.1. Approve the following School Board Meeting Minutes:

7.A.1.a. School Board Minutes December 16, 2024

7.A.1.b. Special School Board Minutes January 6, 2025

7.A.2. Approve financials for the month of December, 2024:

• Office receipts in the amount of 1,307,237.05
• Report of expenditures, including $409,587.18 for bills and $1,050,838.66 for payroll and district contribution to PERA, TRA, OASDI/Medicare and 403(b).
• Donations in the amount of $15,670.90.
• Wire transfers in the amount of $1,400,000.00.
• Employee reimbursements.

7.A.3. Approve Hirings:

7.A.3.a. Karlee Marshall - Paraprofessional

7.A.3.b. Allison Sutherland - Licensed Practical Nurse

7.A.4. Approve Resignations 

7.A.4.a. Therese Lenz - High School Paraprofessional 

7.A.4.b. Debbie Olson- High School Cook

7.B. Discussion Items:

7.B.1. City of Aitkin - Resolution of support for the pedestrian bridge and path project. 

7.B.2. Superintendent Contract 25-26, 26-27, 27-28

7.B.2.a. Superintendent Evaluation

7.B.3. Teacher Early Retirement Discussion - MOU

7.B.4. Budget Discussion 2025-26 Potential Deficit

7.B.4.a. Budget Reductions

7.B.4.a.1. Staffing

7.B.5. Discuss and approve the lease for two 2026 IC CE 56 passenger buses with lift

8. Administrative reports:

8.A. Board Members Reports:

8.B. Committee Reports:

8.B.1. Policy Committee Meeting, January 8, 2025 - 1st Reading

8.B.2. Policy 205 - Open Meeting/Closed Meeting

8.B.3. Policy 206 - Public Participation/Complaints about Persons/Data Privacy Considerations at School Board Meetings

8.B.4. Policy 208 - Development, Adoptions and Implementation os Policies

8.B.5. Policy 209 - Code of Ethics

8.B.6. Policy 210 - Conflict of Interest

8.B.7. Policy 211 - Criminal or Civil Action Against School District, School Board Member, Employee or Student

8.C. Technology Committee Meeting, December 10, 2024

8.D. Principal's Report:
     Mr. Dokken, Rippleside Elementary School
     Ms. DeMars, Aitkin High School
SP Goal 10

8.E. Community Education - Lara Parkin
SP Goal 10

8.F. Superintendent's report:

8.F.1. Enrollment Update

8.F.2. School Project Update

8.F.3. Other:

8.G. Upcoming meetings:
January 29, 2025 - Personnel Committee Meeting -3:45 - AHSMedia Center
February 4, 2025 - Safety Committee Meeting - 3:45 - AHS Media Center
February 5, 2025 - Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting - 3:45 AHS Media Center
February 10, 2025 - School Board Meeting - 5:00 PM - AHS Media Center

 

9. Other:

10. Adjourn