August 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM - Regular School Board Meeting

This School Board Meeting is available to watch via Live Stream by selecting the following link or by going to the "Falls High Journalism" youtube page.

Call to Order

1. Roll Call:
___ Jessica Crosby, Vice Board Chair    
___ Dale Johnson, Director
___ Toni Korpi, Clerk                
___ Bruce Raboin, Director
___ Tina Sather, Treasurer                  
___ Roxanne Skogstad-Ditsch, Director  
___ JoAnn Smith, Board Chair

Non-Voting Members:
___ Beth Shermoen, Superintendent           
___ Joe Sullivan & Max Youso, Student Representatives                  

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of Agenda

1. Approve agenda as presented. 
Motion by ______, second by ______. Motion carried / failed.

Open Forum

1. Public Open Forum

Committee and Administrative Reports

1. Lisa West, Elementary Principal:

2. Melissa Tate, Secondary Principal:

3. Molly Larson, Community Education Director

4. Timm Ringhofer, Activities Director:

5. Beth Shermoen, Superintendent:  

6. Policy Committee

7. Athletic Committee

8. Legislative

Consent Agenda
Approve the Consent Agenda as presented. 
Motion by ______, second by ______.  Motion carried / failed.

1. Approve payroll in the amount of $127,554.79 for pay periods 7/25/25 and 8/8/25.

2. Approve current accounts payable due in the amount of $350,634.15.

3. Approve past meeting minutes for the regular school board meeting on 7/21/2025.

4. Approve Beth Shermoen, Superintendent of ISD 361, to be the designated 25/26 School Year Identified Official with Authority (IOwA) for each Local Educational Agency (LEA) that uses the Education Identity and Access Management (EDIAM) system.  

5. Approve the hire of Casey Stenberg as the Technology Director.

6. Approve the hire of Chris Simpson as Special Education and Intervention Teacher at Falls High School for the 2025-26 school year. 

7. Approve the hire of Jenesa Balaski as the PreSchool/ECFE teacher for the 2025-26 school year.

8. Approve the hire of Angela Scholler as the Administrative Assistant to the Early Childhood Wing effective August 25, 2025.

9. Approve the addition of the Technology Director Position to the At-Will Position Employment Schedule - Section D. 

10. Accept the resignation of Assistant to the Superintendent and district grant writer, Ashley Hall, effective August 8, 2025. 

11. Accept the resignation of Assistant Cross Country Coach Jen Erickson for the 2025-26 season.

12. Accept the resignation of Justin Carney as paraprofessional. 

13. Approve the hire of Justin Carney as Technology Assistant for ISD 361. 

14.  Approve the hire of Hailey Auran as fifth grade teacher for the 2025-26 school year. 

15. Approve the hire of Bryan Kershaw as the Girls Head Hockey Coach for the 2025-26 season. 

16. Approve the hire of Bryan Kershaw as the Girls Assistant Softball Coach for the 2025-26 season. 

17. Approve the hire of Lexi Erickson as Assistant Cross Country Coach for the 2025-26 season. 

18. Approve the hire of Lexi Erickson as Girls Track and Field Coach for the 2025-26 season. 

19. Approve the hire of Assistant Boys Basketball Coach Richard DeBenedet for the 2025-26 season. 

20. Approve the hire of Assistant Boys Swimming and Diving Coach Nathan Moseman for the 2025-26 season. 

21. Approve the hire of Assistant Boys Hockey Coach David Eddy for the 2025-26 season. 

22. Approve the hire of Assistant Boys Hockey Coach Adam Mathews for the 2025-26 season. 

23. Approve Volunteer (booster paid) Assistant Boys Hockey Coach Tucker Hell for the 2025-26 season. 

24. Approve the hire of Baseball Head Coach Blaine Humbert for the 2025-26 season. 

25. Approve the hire of Haley Linder as Intervention, grades kindergarten through sixth for the 2025-26 school year. 

26. Approve the hire of Shelly Koenig a Prom Advisor for the 2025-26 school year. 

27. Approve Volunteer Elementary Volleyball Coaches: Adyson Wallender, Janet Humbert, Sarah Peterson, Julia Anderson, Emily Nicholson, Kimberly O'Loughlin and Kristie LaVigne for the 2025-26 season. 

28. Approve Volunteer Elementary Football Coaches: Troy Freeberg, Brad Kokesh, Ross Hamers, Leif Larsen, Joe Achtermann, Brady Bowles, Shawn Bowles and Auggie Schmitt for the 2025-26 season.

29. Approve Volunteer Elementary Girls Swimming Coaches: Hailey Silvers and Ashley Mitchell for the 2025-26 season. 

30. Approve Volunteer (booster paid) High School Girls Swimming Coach: Hailey Silvers for the 2025-26 season. 

31. Approve Volunteer High School Football Coaches: Christian DeVerney (not paid), Norm Nelson (not paid), Denis Sidkey (booster paid) for the 2025-26 season. 

32. Approve Volunteer High School Cross Country Coach: Angela Scholler (not paid) for the 2025-26 season. 

33. Approve Volunteer Junior High Football Coaches: Dylan Holt (booster paid) and Shane Donner (booster paid) for the 2025-26 season. 

34. Approve Volunteer Junior High Volleyball Coaches: Paetyn Zahn (booster paid), Emily Nicholson (booster paid) and Cyndi Heibel (booster paid) for the 2025-26 season. 

35. Accept the Local Producer Promotion Program Grant through the Minnesota Beef Council.

36. Accept the resignation of Kari Benedix-Obermaier as the FES Assistant Cook effective 8/5/2025.

37. Approve the hire of Kari Benedix-Obermaier as Custodian/Bus Driver for the 25/26 School Year effective 9/2/2025.

38. Second Reading of School Board Policy 401: Equal Employment Opportunity

39.  First Reading of School Board Policy 402: Disability Nondiscrimination Policy.

40. Second Reading of School Board Policy 403: Discipline, Suspension, and Dismissal of School District Employees.

41. Second Reading of School Board Policy 405: Veteran's Preference.

42. Second Reading of School Board Policy 406: Public and Private Personal Data.

43. Second Reading of School Board Policy 407: Employee Right to Know - Exposure to Hazardous Substances.

44. Second Reading of School Board Policy 408: Subpoena of a School District Employee. 

45. Second Reading of School Board Policy 409: Employee Publications, Instructional Materials, Inventions, and Creations.

46. Second Reading of School Board Policy 410: Family and Medical Leave Policy. 

47. Second Reading of School Board Policy 412: Expense Reimbursement. 

48. Second Reading of School Board Policy 413: Harassment and Violence.

49. Second Reading of School Board Policy 414: Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse.

50. Second Reading of School Board Policy 415: Mandated Reporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults.

51. Second Reading of School Board Policy 416: Drug, Alcohol, and Cannabis Testing. 

52. Second Reading of School Board Policy 417: Chemical Use and Abuse.

53. Second Reading of School Board Policy 418: Drug-Free Workplace/Drug-Free School. 

54. Second Reading of School Board Policy 419: Tobacco-Free Environment; Possession and Use of Tobacco, Tobacco-Related Devices, and Electronic Delivery Devices; Vaping Awareness and Prevention Instruction.

55. Second Reading of School Board Policy 420: Students and Employees with Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases and Certain Other Communicable Diseases and Infectious Conditions.

56. Second Reading of School Board Policy 421: Gifts to Employees.

57. Second Reading of School Board Policy 422: Policies Incorporated By Reference. 

58. Second Reading of School Board Policy 424: License Status.

59. Second Reading of School Board Policy 425: Staff Development. 

60. Second Reading of School Board Policy 427: Workload Limits for Certain Special Education Teachers.

Action Items

1. Improving systems and structures to create a culture where all are welcome and supported.

1.a. Resolution Acceptance of Gifts and Donations. 
Motion by ______, second by ______.  Motion carried / failed.

1.b. Approve Expanding Care & Learning Opportunities for ISD 361 Youth Award Grant for $25,000.
Motion by ______, second by ______.  Motion carried / failed.

2. Maintain our facilities to be welcoming, safe and efficient for use by students and the community. 

2.a. Review and approval of bid proposals & selected alternate awards for the August 2025 referendum work.  
Motion by ______, second by ______.  Motion carried / failed.

2.b. Adopt the resolution stating the intention of the school board to issue general obligation facilities maintenance bonds, series 2026A, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $2,700,000 and taking other actions with respect thereto.  
Motion by ______, second by ______.  Motion carried / failed.

2.c. Approve the Resolution Declaring a Part of ISD 361 School Property Not Needed For School Purposes.
Motion by ______, second by ______.  Motion carried / failed.

Adjournment

1. Motion by ______, second by ______ to adjourn meeting at ______ p.m. 
Motion carried / failed.