May 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting of the School Board

Discussion:  The Board of Education of Hermantown Independent School District No. 700 met in regular session on May 26, 2026. Chair, David Hokanson, called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
 

Discussion:  Members Present: Eric Griffith, David Hokanson, Jodi McShane, Ashley McFarland, Matthew Munger, Tim Peterson, Wayne Whitwam, Superintendent, Candace Nelis (absent), Director of Business Services

Visitors: Jason Wilcox, Bill Wietman, Kammi Wietman, Mike Pothast, John Muenich, Gretchen Appelwick, Brent Chouanard-Nguyen, JoAnne Bates, Dacia Selzler, Michael Michelizzi

Discussion:  Appelwick. Elementary held Kindergarten graduation with all of the kindergarten teachers, our music teacher Claire Salo and our student teachers and parents. They all went really well. Thanks to the high school staff for filtering the parents through the doors and to John for drawing a nice map for the parents. Thanks to Bill for allowing us to use the Lecture Hall. We also hosted a successful Book Fair. 
Wietman. Thank you to Mr. Gabe Buck, our Math Corps leader. According to benchmark data, 88% of his students grew in their math scores. He will be back next year, and we will also be adding a second math corps tutor to help him. 
Muenich. Gearing up for playoff time for activities and graduation is coming up soon. 

Discussion:  No Visitor Business. 

Discussion:  Mike Pothast, Teacher of Special Assignment for Curriculum, reviewed the curriculum cycle and talked specifically about the Social Studies curriculum implementations for 2026.  

Discussion:  Several Hermantown City Council members requested that a representative from Hermantown Community Schools come speak to the council at a meeting in the near future about how the revenue from the data center would impact the school district. 

Discussion:  We are currently at 2,030 students right now and down about 35 students from a year ago. Students looking to get in for Open Enrollment are not in the grades that we could easily add, so it does make for much tougher decisions. But, we do try to make our budget balanced at the same time. 

Discussion:  Concerns going forward from legislation: special education cross subsidy costs, universal meals affordability, unemployment insurance pressure, future education health insurance discussions, Blue Ribbon Commission possibly cutting $250 million from special education. Permanent school funding amendment will be on the ballot in November, which will require a Yes vote from all voters. It will not cost taxpayers anything additional, as the money will come from mining, timber and land sales, but will provide an additional $28 per pupil to the school district. 

Discussion:  Sat down with Ehlers to discuss once the high school is paid off, what we could go out to levy for in a 10-year plan that would not raise taxes by a single dollar. It sounds like we could ask for $56 million in 2033. Would ask for community input on how best to utilize those funds.  

Discussion:  McFarland and McShane. The Activities Liaison Committee met, but there was not much to report back on.