Meeting Agenda
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
6. Scheduled presentations: (Max. 10 Minutes)
6.A. Student Council Reports
SP Goal 10
7. Old Business:  
8. New business:
8.A. Approve consent agenda items as follows:
8.A.1. Approve the following School Board Meeting Minutes:
August 17, 2026
8.A.2. Approve financials for the month of August, 2026:
  • Office receipts in the amount of $2,199,387.41
  • Report of expenditures, including $375,234.56 for bills and $791,327.46 for payroll and district contribution to PERA, TRA, OASDI/Medicare and 403(b).
  • Donations in the amount of $13,627.46.
  • Wire transfers in the amount of $1,100,000.00.
  • Employee reimbursements.
8.A.3. Approve Hirings:
8.A.3.a. Leslie Bari - HS Paraprofessional 
8.A.3.b. Kelley Knickerbocker- Rippleside Paraprofessional 
8.A.3.c. Karissa Escobedo - 4th grade media literacy
8.A.3.d. Roberta Kozelka - Substitute Paraprofessional HS
8.A.3.e. Heidi Duchow - Rippleside .5 Paraprofessional 
8.A.3.f. Brittany Nyberg - Substitute Teacher  Rippleside 
8.A.3.g. Katherine Cirilli - Substitute Teacher HS
8.A.3.h. Ashley Bruns - Bus Paraprofessional/Bus Driver
8.A.4. Approve Resignations:
8.A.4.a. Theresa Hiller-Baty - Rippleside Paraprofessional
8.A.4.b. Kayla Luke - Paraprofessional High School
8.A.4.c. Steve Snyder- Building & Grounds Supervisor 
8.A.5. Consider and approve volunteer extracurricular activities
8.A.5.a. Lauren Ratz - Volunteer volleyball coach
8.A.5.b. Mark Jackson - Volunteer volleyball coach
8.A.5.c. Jeremiah Smythe - Volunteer football coach
8.A.6. Consider and approve extracurricular activities
8.A.6.a. Adeline Sanford-Tennis (Girls) Assistant Coach 
8.A.6.b. Josh Voller- FFA Advisor
8.A.6.c. Meredith Sander- Honor Society Advisor
8.A.6.d. Meredith Sander- Jr/Sr. Banquet
8.A.6.e. Nedra Henline - Jr/Sr. Prom Co-Chair Advisor 
8.A.6.f. Michaela Monson- Jr./Sr. Prom Co-Chair Advisor
8.A.6.g. Scott Miller- BPA Head 
8.A.6.h. Jason May - Knowledge Bowl - Head
8.A.6.i. Sean Smith - Knowledge Bowl - Assistant 
8.A.6.j. Chancy Nordick - Math League Advisor 
8.A.6.k. Kerry Hopperstad- Math League Advisor 
8.A.6.l. Dustin Richters- Peer-Helpers Co-Advisor Secondary
8.A.6.m. Lindsey Cline - Peer Helpers Co-Advisor Secondary
8.A.6.n. Scott Miller -Sr Class Advisor 
8.A.6.o. Samanth Croatt- Student Council Middle School
8.A.6.p. Amanda Steffens- Student Council  Sr High
8.A.6.q. Brianna Tetrick - Annual Advisor
8.A.6.r. Julie Asmus - Math Masters - Grade 5
8.A.6.s. Julie Asmus - Math Masters - Grade 6
8.A.6.t. Brenda Ladd-Continuing Education Chairperson 
8.A.6.u. Ashley Norberg - One Act Play
8.A.6.v. Lauren Pankow- Instrument Music -Pep Band
8.A.6.w. Jennifer Johnson- Vocal Music/Musical
8.A.6.x. Sara Warren - International Club advisor 
8.A.7. Appoint the Superintendent, Mary Morem, to sign on all bank accounts.
8.A.8. Consider and approve Cloud Renewal Access
8.A.9. Consider and approve electronic background screening
8.B. Discussion Items:
8.B.1. Ehlers- Matthew Hammer, Presale Bond Report
8.B.2. Approve to set Truth in Taxation Hearing for December 21, 2026, 6:00 p.m. in the AHS Media Center. 
8.B.3. Approve the proposed 2026 Payable 2027 Levy at maximum
8.B.4. 10 Passenger Ford Van- Discuss and approve 
8.B.5. Discuss Student School Board representatives. 
9. Administrative reports:
9.A. Board Members Reports:
9.B. Committee Reports:
9.B.1. Policy Committee Meeting, September 21, 2026 - 1st Reading
9.B.1.a. Policy 110 - Therapy Animals
9.B.1.b. Policy 412 - Expense Reimbursement
9.B.1.c. Policy 503 - Student Attendance
9.B.1.d. Student Medication and Telehealth
9.C. Principal's Report:
    Ms Leah Olk - Rippleside Elementary School
     Ms. DeMars, Aitkin High School
SP Goal 10
9.D. Community Education - Nedra Henline
SP Goal 10
9.E. Superintendent's report:
9.E.1. Enrollment Update
9.E.2. Other:
9.F. Upcoming meetings: School Board Meeting October 19, 2026 6:30 PM
Policy Meeting -October 21, 2026- 5:00

 
10. Other:
11. Adjourn
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting

  Aitkin Public Schools 

 ~Strong Relationships~Innovative Education
Meeting: September 21, 2026 at 6:30 PM - School Board Meeting
Subject:
1. Call meeting to order by the chairperson
Subject:
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Subject:
3. Roll Call
Subject:
4. *Comments from visitors
Subject:
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. 
Subject:
5. Approval of agenda - revise or remove as needed
Subject:
6. Scheduled presentations: (Max. 10 Minutes)
Subject:
6.A. Student Council Reports
SP Goal 10
Subject:
7. Old Business:  
Subject:
8. New business:
Subject:
8.A. Approve consent agenda items as follows:
Subject:
8.A.1. Approve the following School Board Meeting Minutes:
August 17, 2026
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.2. Approve financials for the month of August, 2026:
  • Office receipts in the amount of $2,199,387.41
  • Report of expenditures, including $375,234.56 for bills and $791,327.46 for payroll and district contribution to PERA, TRA, OASDI/Medicare and 403(b).
  • Donations in the amount of $13,627.46.
  • Wire transfers in the amount of $1,100,000.00.
  • Employee reimbursements.
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.3. Approve Hirings:
Subject:
8.A.3.a. Leslie Bari - HS Paraprofessional 
Subject:
8.A.3.b. Kelley Knickerbocker- Rippleside Paraprofessional 
Subject:
8.A.3.c. Karissa Escobedo - 4th grade media literacy
Subject:
8.A.3.d. Roberta Kozelka - Substitute Paraprofessional HS
Subject:
8.A.3.e. Heidi Duchow - Rippleside .5 Paraprofessional 
Subject:
8.A.3.f. Brittany Nyberg - Substitute Teacher  Rippleside 
Subject:
8.A.3.g. Katherine Cirilli - Substitute Teacher HS
Subject:
8.A.3.h. Ashley Bruns - Bus Paraprofessional/Bus Driver
Subject:
8.A.4. Approve Resignations:
Subject:
8.A.4.a. Theresa Hiller-Baty - Rippleside Paraprofessional
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.4.b. Kayla Luke - Paraprofessional High School
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.4.c. Steve Snyder- Building & Grounds Supervisor 
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.5. Consider and approve volunteer extracurricular activities
Subject:
8.A.5.a. Lauren Ratz - Volunteer volleyball coach
Subject:
8.A.5.b. Mark Jackson - Volunteer volleyball coach
Subject:
8.A.5.c. Jeremiah Smythe - Volunteer football coach
Subject:
8.A.6. Consider and approve extracurricular activities
Subject:
8.A.6.a. Adeline Sanford-Tennis (Girls) Assistant Coach 
Subject:
8.A.6.b. Josh Voller- FFA Advisor
Subject:
8.A.6.c. Meredith Sander- Honor Society Advisor
Subject:
8.A.6.d. Meredith Sander- Jr/Sr. Banquet
Subject:
8.A.6.e. Nedra Henline - Jr/Sr. Prom Co-Chair Advisor 
Subject:
8.A.6.f. Michaela Monson- Jr./Sr. Prom Co-Chair Advisor
Subject:
8.A.6.g. Scott Miller- BPA Head 
Subject:
8.A.6.h. Jason May - Knowledge Bowl - Head
Subject:
8.A.6.i. Sean Smith - Knowledge Bowl - Assistant 
Subject:
8.A.6.j. Chancy Nordick - Math League Advisor 
Subject:
8.A.6.k. Kerry Hopperstad- Math League Advisor 
Subject:
8.A.6.l. Dustin Richters- Peer-Helpers Co-Advisor Secondary
Subject:
8.A.6.m. Lindsey Cline - Peer Helpers Co-Advisor Secondary
Subject:
8.A.6.n. Scott Miller -Sr Class Advisor 
Subject:
8.A.6.o. Samanth Croatt- Student Council Middle School
Subject:
8.A.6.p. Amanda Steffens- Student Council  Sr High
Subject:
8.A.6.q. Brianna Tetrick - Annual Advisor
Subject:
8.A.6.r. Julie Asmus - Math Masters - Grade 5
Subject:
8.A.6.s. Julie Asmus - Math Masters - Grade 6
Subject:
8.A.6.t. Brenda Ladd-Continuing Education Chairperson 
Subject:
8.A.6.u. Ashley Norberg - One Act Play
Subject:
8.A.6.v. Lauren Pankow- Instrument Music -Pep Band
Subject:
8.A.6.w. Jennifer Johnson- Vocal Music/Musical
Subject:
8.A.6.x. Sara Warren - International Club advisor 
Subject:
8.A.7. Appoint the Superintendent, Mary Morem, to sign on all bank accounts.
Subject:
8.A.8. Consider and approve Cloud Renewal Access
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.9. Consider and approve electronic background screening
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B. Discussion Items:
Subject:
8.B.1. Ehlers- Matthew Hammer, Presale Bond Report
Subject:
8.B.2. Approve to set Truth in Taxation Hearing for December 21, 2026, 6:00 p.m. in the AHS Media Center. 
Subject:
8.B.3. Approve the proposed 2026 Payable 2027 Levy at maximum
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B.4. 10 Passenger Ford Van- Discuss and approve 
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B.5. Discuss Student School Board representatives. 
Subject:
9. Administrative reports:
Subject:
9.A. Board Members Reports:
Subject:
9.B. Committee Reports:
Subject:
9.B.1. Policy Committee Meeting, September 21, 2026 - 1st Reading
Subject:
9.B.1.a. Policy 110 - Therapy Animals
Attachments:
Subject:
9.B.1.b. Policy 412 - Expense Reimbursement
Attachments:
Subject:
9.B.1.c. Policy 503 - Student Attendance
Attachments:
Subject:
9.B.1.d. Student Medication and Telehealth
Attachments:
Subject:
9.C. Principal's Report:
    Ms Leah Olk - Rippleside Elementary School
     Ms. DeMars, Aitkin High School
SP Goal 10
Attachments:
Subject:
9.D. Community Education - Nedra Henline
SP Goal 10
Subject:
9.E. Superintendent's report:
Subject:
9.E.1. Enrollment Update
Attachments:
Subject:
9.E.2. Other:
Subject:
9.F. Upcoming meetings: School Board Meeting October 19, 2026 6:30 PM
Policy Meeting -October 21, 2026- 5:00

 
Subject:
10. Other:
Attachments:
Subject:
11. Adjourn

Mission Statement:

To inspire and prepare our students with the tools and skills to succeed in an ever changing world.

 

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