August 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Regular School Board Meeting

I. Call to Order

II. Roll Call

II.A. School Board Member Heather Naegele is attending the meeting remotely for personal reasons. 

III. Pledge of Allegiance

IV. Approval of Agenda

V. Superintendent’s Report

VI. Removal of Consent Items for Discussion

VII. Approval of Consent Items

VII.A. Minutes of July 10, 2025 Regular School Board Meeting

VII.B. Authorization of Payments, Transfers, and Investment Activity

VII.C. Personnel

VII.C.1. Barbara Gray, retirement effective July 17, 2025, as Special Education Assistant at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.2. Kevin Grote, retirement effective July 16, 2025, as Science Teacher at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.3. Scarlett Eichler, resignation effective July 16, 2025, as Special Education Assistant at North Branch Area Education Center

VII.C.4. Nichole Helquist, resignation effective August 18, 2025, as Assessment Support Secretary at North Branch Area Public Schools

VII.C.5. Erik Lien, resignation effective July 3, 2025, as Social Studies Teacher at Norse Area Learning Center

VII.C.6. Jenna Morris, resignation effective July 28, 2025, as Pre-Apprentice at North Branch Area Public Schools

VII.C.7. Jessica M. Richter, resignation effective July 31, 2025, as Special Education Assistant at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.8. Emily Xiong, resignation effective July 31, 2025, as Pre-Apprentice at North Branch Area Public Schools

VII.C.9. Holly McWilliams, leave request effective April 30, 2025 returning on May 27, 2025, as 6th Grade Teacher at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.10. Holly McWilliams, leave request effective September 8, 2025 through October 31, 2025, as 6th Grade Teacher at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.11. Ian McWilliams, leave request effective April 30, 2025 returning on May 27, 2025, as Intermittent Special Education Teacher at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.12. Benjamin Paro, leave request effective approximately October 15, 2025 for six weeks, as Music Teacher at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.13. Patrice Ramaley, position change effective July 21, 2025, from Special Education Assistant to School Age Care Senior Adult Assistant at North Branch Area Education Center

VII.C.14. Paola Kessler, position change effective August 26, 2025, from Lunchroom/Playground Assistant at Sunrise River Elementary School to Lunchroom/Playground Assistant and School Age Care Adult Assistant at North Branch Area Education Center

VII.C.15. Jean Romo, position change effective July 28, 2025, from Schoolkeeper to Custodian at North Branch Area Public Schools

VII.C.16. Sarah Beckmann, MA+60, Step 15, beginning with the 2025-26 school year, as Counselor at North Branch Area High School

VII.C.17. Simone Collins-Goodwin, BS+15, Step 2, one-year contract for the 2025-26 school year, as Tier 2 Medical Careers Teacher at North Branch Area High School

VII.C.18. Jaide Ehalt, MEd, Step 2, beginning with the 2025-26 school year, as Elementary Teacher at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.19. Samantha Hoffman, BS, Step 2, beginning with the 2025-26 school year, as Special Education Teacher at Sunrise River Elementary School

VII.C.20. Cassandra Johnson, BS, Step 1, as Long Term Substitute for Rachel Mellem, effective August 25, 2025 through January 5, 2026, as 2nd Grade Teacher at Sunrise River Elementary School

VII.C.21. Stefan Lund, MA+60, Step 5, one-year contract for the 2025-26 school year, as Tier 2 License Social Studies Teacher at North Branch Area High School

VII.C.22. Nicholas Pawlik, BS, Step 6, beginning with the 2025-26 school year, as Science Teacher at North Branch Area Middle School

VII.C.23. Richard Red, MEd+45, Step 17, beginning with the 2025-26 school year, as Agriculture Teacher at Norse Area Learning Center

VII.C.24. Nicolas Schlender, BA, Step 1, beginning with the 2025-26 school year, as Math Teacher at Norse Area Learning Center

VII.C.25. Caleb Stiles, BA+15, Step 2, one-year contract for the 2025-26 school year, as Tier 2 License Social Studies Teacher at Norse Area Learning Center

VII.C.26. Kendra Tlusty, MA+60, Step 17, beginning with the 2025 -26 school year, change from 0.5 FTE to 1.0 FTE, as Elementary Teacher at Sunrise River Elementary School

VII.C.27. Brittany Bah Moulonda, employment effective March 24, 2025, as Schoolkeeper at North Branch Area Public Schools

VII.C.28. Mark Lind, employment effective July 14, 2025, as Maintenance Specialist at North Branch Area Public Schools

VII.C.29. 2025-26 Extracurricular Fall Coach Positions

VII.C.29.a. Chad Johnson, Class 2, Step 10, as Head Coach for Boys Soccer

VII.C.29.b. Josh Kopp Class 2, Step 8, as Head Coach for Girls Soccer

VII.C.29.c. Justin Voss, Class 1, Step 8, as Head Coach for Football

VII.C.29.d. Dan Johnson, Class 3, Step 10, as Assistant Coach for Football

VII.C.29.e. Mason Niederkorn, Class 3, Step 9, as Assistant Coach for Football

VII.C.29.f. Eli Erickson, Class 3, Step 2, as 0.5 FTE Assistant Coach for Football

VII.C.29.g. Kyle Groh, Class 3, Step 4, as Assistant Coach for Football

VII.C.29.h. Kyle Kahl, Class 3, Step 10, as Assistant Coach for Football

VII.C.29.i. Ian McWilliams, Class 3, Step 10, as Assistant Coach for Football

VII.C.29.j. Drew Van Eerden, Class 3, Step 2, as Assistant Coach for Football

VII.C.29.k. Mike Selbitschka, Class 1, Step 10, as Head Coach for Volleyball

VII.C.29.l. Everett Appleby, Class 3, Step 1, as Assistant Coach for Volleyball

VII.C.29.m. Megan Carlson, Class 3, Step 2, as Assistant Coach for Volleyball

VII.C.29.n. Tammi Minke, Class 3, Step 10, as Assistant Coach for Volleyball

VII.C.29.o. Jim Van Eerden, Class 6, Step 10, as Coach for Middle School Volleyball

VII.C.29.p. Norm Nagel, Class 2, Step 7, as Head Coach for Cross Country

VII.C.29.q. Natalie Bristol, Class 4, Step 2, as Assistant Coach for Cross Country

VII.C.29.r. Joel Santjer, Class 3, Step 10, as Head Coach for Girls Tennis

VII.C.29.s. Kathy Crudo, Class 5, Step 6, as Assistant Coach for Girls Tennis

VII.C.29.t. Chad Carlson, Class 9, Step 10, as Fitness Center Supervisor

VII.C.29.u. Norm Nagel, Class 9, Step 10, as Fitness Center Supervisor

VII.C.29.v. Ross Otto as Volunteer Coach for Boys Soccer

VII.C.29.w. Nick Schlender as Volunteer Coach for Football

VII.C.29.x. Larry Davidson as Volunteer Coach for Girls Tennis

VII.C.29.y. Bryant Meyer as Volunteer Coach for Girls Tennis

VII.C.29.z. John Paul Rossini as Volunteer Coach for Girls Tennis

VII.C.29.aa. Andy Spofford as Volunteer Coach for Girls Tennis

VII.C.29.ab. Steve Dickhudt as Volunteer Coach for Volleyball

VII.C.29.ac. Courtney Selbitschka as Volunteer Coach for Volleyball

VII.D. Tenure of the Following Teacher

VII.D.1. Amanda Tessmer - High School Counselor - North Branch Area High School

VII.E. Acceptance of Donations
Minnesota Statute 123B.02 permits school boards to "...receive, for the benefit of the district, bequests, donations, or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to the purpose designated.  In that behalf, the board may act as trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district, and for the benefit of pupils thereof."

Therefore, the Superintendent recommends the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No. 138 that the School Board accept with appreciation the following contributions and permit their use as designated by the donors.

VIII. Open Mic: Open mic is a time for public comment. However, it is not a means to have issues added to this evening’s agenda. It is also not a means to discuss specific individuals negatively in public, either by name or position. If you would like district follow up to comments, please leave appropriate contact information on the open mic sign-in sheet. Please limit your comments to three minutes.

IX. Old Business

IX.A. Consider Acceptance of Summary of Bids for Garbage Hauling for the 2025-26 School Year 

X. New Business

X.A. Consider Approval for a Single Reading of Policy 496 NB - Teacher Substitute Pay

X.B. Consider Approval of the 2025-2026 Activities Workers Rates of Pay

XI. Addendum

XII. Information

XIII. Board Requests

XIV. Committee Reports

XV. Dates to Remember

XV.A. August 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM - Custodian Negotiations Session, North Branch Area Education Center, DO Conference Room B122

XV.B. August 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM - Negotiations Committee Meeting, North Branch Area Education Center

XV.C. August 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM - School Board Work Session, North Branch Area Education Center, Board Room, Room C120

XV.D. September 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM - Policy Committee Meeting, North Branch Area Education Center, DO Conference Room B122

XV.E. September 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Regular School Board Meeting, North Branch Area Education Center, Board Room, Room C120

XVI. Adjournment