January 12, 2026 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. Election of officers for 2026:

5.A.1. Call for nominations for chair

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

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

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

5.A.3. Call for nominations for clerk

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

5.A.4. Call for nominations for treasurer

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

5.A.5. Chair seats the members

5.B. Establish meeting dates, time and place for 2026. 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.B.1. Discuss and determine Malmo (June) and Palisade (October) meetings for 2026. No streaming available. 

5.C. Conduct other business: 

5.C.1. Authorize updates to and use of 2026 computerized signature files. Authorize use of the 2025 signatures until updates are complete. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5.C.9.g. Investments:

5.C.9.g.1. Old National Bank, Aitkin, MN

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

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

5.C.9.g.4. MSDLAF

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

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

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

6. Scheduled presentations: (Max. 10 Minutes)

6.A. Student Council Reports
SP Goal 10

7. New business:

7.A. Approve consent agenda items as follows:

7.A.1. Approve the following School Board Meeting Minutes:
School Board Minutes - December 15, 2025

7.A.2. Approve financials for the month of December 2025:

• Office receipts in the amount of $1,345,192.09
• Report of expenditures, including $582,658.76 for bills and $1,096,162.91 for payroll and district contribution to PERA, TRA, OASDI/Medicare and 403(b).
• Donations in the amount of $3,903.03.
• Wire transfers in the amount of $1,600,000.00.
• Employee reimbursements.

7.A.3. Approve Hirings:

7.A.3.a. Logan Roos - High School Media Technician

7.A.3.b. Erin Duerkop- Part time Rippleside paraprofessional - Part time Rippleside kitchen staff .

7.A.4. Consider and approve the following extra-curricular assignments: 

7.A.4.a. Michael Hansen - Assistant Robotics Coach- 2025-26 Season

7.A.4.b. Curt Earhardt- Head Girls Golf Coach 2025-26 Season

7.A.4.c. Travis Chaput - Musical Assistant - 2026 Season  

7.A.4.d. Jacob Becker - Musical Set Design 2026 Season

7.A.5. Consider and approve extra extracurricular volunteer positions

7.A.5.a. Jason Cline - Volunteer Girls Golf Coach-2026 Season

7.A.6. Consider and approve the 12 month Administrative Professional Contract

7.A.7. Consider and approve less than 12 month Administrative Professional Agreement 

7.A.8. Consider and approve the 2025-26-27 Cleaner Agreement

7.A.9. Consider and approve 2025-26-27 Food Service Director Agreement with
Terrance Dox

7.A.10. Consider and approve 2025-26-27 Agreement Business Manager Heather Hipp

7.A.11. Consider and approve Technology Coordinator  2025-26-27  agreement with
Jason Roos

7.A.12. Teacher Early Retirement - MOU

7.A.13. READ Act MOU

7.A.14. MOU Jim Henrickson 
Dean of Students/Activities Director Compensation 2025-2027 school years 

7.B. Discussion Items:

7.B.1. Approve Pay Equity Implementation Report

7.B.2. ICS/Ehlers Presentation

7.B.3. RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SCHOOL BUILDING BONDS AND CALLING AN ELECTION THEREON - April 14, 2026

7.B.4. IRRR Resolution: Resolution authorizing Aitkin Public Schools to make application to accept funds from IRRR- School Account- Bricks & Mortar

7.B.5. Superintendent Search

8. Administrative reports:

8.A. Board Members Reports:

8.B. Committee Reports:

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

8.D. Jim Henrickson - Split Jr High Basketball seasons- Great River Conference planning

8.E. Community Education - Nedra Henline
SP Goal 10

8.F. Superintendent's report:

8.F.1. Enrollment Update

8.F.2. Other:

8.G. Upcoming meetings: 
Jan 28, 2026 - Personnel Committee- AHS Media Center 3:45 pm
Feb 9, 2026- School Board Meeting- AHS Media Center 6:30 pm

 

9. Other:

10. Adjourn