July 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting of the School Board
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I. Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance
Discussion:
The Board of Education of Hermantown Independent School District No. 700 met in regular session on July 27, 2026. Chair, David Hokanson, called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
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II. Mission Statement
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III. Roll Call
Discussion:
Members Present: Eric Griffith (absent), David Hokanson, Jodi McShane, Ashley McFarland, Matthew Munger, Tim Peterson, Wayne Whitwam, Superintendent, Candace Nelis, Director of Business Services
Visitors: Sarah Turcotte, Jason Wilcox, Mike Pothast, Bill Wietman, Lori Sinnott, John Wojciuk, Jill Hansen, Dacia Selzler, John Muenich, Gretchen Appelwick, Michael Michelizzi |
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IV. Approve Agenda
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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V. Approve Consent Agenda
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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V.A. Approval of Minutes of Previous Board Meeting: June 22, 2026
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V.B. Approval and authorization of audited vouchers for payment #119282-119452 charged to the following funds, voided check #119011, ACH vendor payments and the Bank and Electronic Transfers:
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V.C. Approval of Personnel Items
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VI. Resolution to Accept Donations
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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VII. Comments and Congratulations
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VII.A. Elementary, Middle, High School, and Community Education Reports
Discussion:
Appelwick. Thanked Lisa Ball for her years of service. The elementary school will miss her and Chester the dog.
Wietman. Thanked the custodians for their work in getting the buildings ready for the school year. Whitwam. Also thanked the custodians for getting the buildings ready while being short-staffed. They have done a great job staying on task. |
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VIII. Recognition of Visitor Business
Discussion:
No Visitor Business.
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IX. Administrative Report
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IX.A. Mike Pothast - Panorama Survey Results
Discussion:
Mike Pothast presented the Panorama Survey Results from the survey given to staff in May 2026. The leadership team selected from each building will get together August 11th to review the data and make decisions on what they want to present to staff.
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X. Correspondence
Discussion:
Received communication in support of the Check and Connect program.
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XI. Superintendent's Discussion Items
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XI.A. Open Enrollment
Discussion:
Discussed open enrollment numbers and waiting lists.
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XI.B. Projects
Discussion:
Daktronics board has been installed in the high school gym and the board at the football field is set to be installed Friday.
Middle school bleachers have been removed and we are now waiting on the new ones to be installed. Middle school conference room and select high school rooms are in the process of being carpeted. The entryway to the high school/middle school is set to be repaired. |
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XI.C. Superintendent Goals
Discussion:
Whitwam discussed a draft of his goals with the Board and welcomed the Board to share feedback and any changes. His Superintendent Evaluation will be on the August 10 agenda.
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XII. Committee Reports
Discussion:
Facilities Committee meeting. Architect that could possibly design a facility at the football field to include an entrance to indoor fieldhouse/locker rooms/bathrooms. This project would need to be built in stages. Naming rights for Centricity Stadium come up in three years - what does that renewal look like? What is the cost for design?
Legacy Fund met. Talking about the Taste of Hermantown. The head of that fundraiser stepped down from the board, so there will be a new look for that event in the future. McFarland and McShane met with new Activities Director, Nate Buck. |
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XIII. Old Business
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XIII.A. Memorandum of Understanding between Hermantown Community Schools ISD 700 and Hermantown Principals' Association - Transfer and Preservation of Retirement Benefits
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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XIII.B. New Host Server
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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XIII.C. New Position Request for High School Paraprofessional
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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XIV. New Business
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XIV.A. Casual / Substitute Rates of Pay
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XIV.B. District Policy #625 - Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence
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XIV.C. District Policy Revisions: #208 and #410
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XIV.D. District Policy Renumber from #625 to #622
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XIV.E. Updates to 2026-27 HMS Student Handbook
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XV. Adjournment
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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