Meeting Agenda
1. Call meeting to order by the chairperson
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. Approval of agenda - revise or remove as needed
5. Truth in Taxation Presentation - Heather Hipp
5.A. Comments from Community
5.B. Approve 2025 payable 2026 Levy Certification
6. *Comments from visitors
6.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. 
7. Scheduled presentations: (Max. 10 Minutes)
7.A. RAMS - Paul Peltier
7.B. Student Council Reports
SP Goal 10
8. New business:
8.A. Approve consent agenda items as follows:
8.A.1. Approve the following School Board Meeting Minutes:
November 17, 2025 - School Board Meeting
November 17, 2025- Board Work Session
December 3, 3025- Board Work Session

 
8.A.2. Approve financials for the month of November, 2025:
  • Office receipts in the amount of $437,633.38
  • Report of expenditures, including $418,515.41 for bills and $1,006,985.48 for payroll and district contribution to PERA, TRA, OASDI/Medicare and 403(b).
  • Donations in the amount of $23,429.95
  • Wire transfers in the amount of $1,500,000.00
  • Employee reimbursements.
8.A.3. Approve Resignations
8.A.3.a. Cheryl Hannah - Food Service Rippleside Elementary
8.A.3.b. Kim Chalich - Media Technician 
8.A.4. Approve Hirings:
8.A.4.a. Tia Doble - Rippleside Para Professional
8.A.5. Approve Youth In Philanthropy Grants 
9th Grade Field Trip Water Park  - $1000 - fully funded
5th Grade DARE Graduation Celebration — Adventure Zone Duluth — $1000 fully funded
Grad Blast - 2026 - $500 - fully funded 
 
8.A.6. Approve the Education Minnesota - Aitkin Teachers Master Agreement: 2025-2027
8.A.7. Approve the Aitkin Education Support Staff Master Agreement - 2025-2027
8.A.8. Approve Transportation Supervisor Contract - 2025-2026 & 2026-2027
8.A.9. Approve Food Service Contract 2025-2027
8.A.10. Teachers Seniority List 2025-2026
8.A.11. Jake Mehr - Leave of absence 
8.A.12. Approve EMA MOU - School Nurse
8.B. Discussion Items:
8.B.1. Resolution to approve the submission of the Review and Comment for the potential April election.
8.B.2. Discuss and approve Costin Lobby Group proposal for 2026
8.B.3. Discuss and approve ICS Professional Services Contract
8.B.4. Approve Combined Polling Place - Aitkin Public Library
8.B.5. Approve Community Education Annual Report 2024-2025
8.B.6. Discuss and approve World's Best Workforce - New Name - CACR- Comprehensive Achievement and Civil Readiness assessment 
8.B.7. Discuss January and February 2026 Regular Meeting Dates
8.B.8. MREA Board of Director's election
8.B.9. Paul Grams- Long Term Substitute - Resignation
8.B.10. Dan Stifter- Superintendent - Resignation
9. Administrative reports:
9.A. Board Members Reports:
9.B. Committee Reports:
9.B.1. Personnel Committee Meeting, December 2, 2025
9.C. Principal's Report:
     Mr. Dokken, 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:
December 31, 2025 - Personnel Committee Meeting - 3:45 PM AHS Media Center 
 
10. Other:
11. Adjourn
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting

  Aitkin Public Schools 

 ~Strong Relationships~Innovative Education
Meeting: December 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Truth in Taxation followed by School Board Meeting
Subject:
1. Call meeting to order by the chairperson
Subject:
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Subject:
3. Roll Call
Subject:
4. Approval of agenda - revise or remove as needed
Subject:
5. Truth in Taxation Presentation - Heather Hipp
Attachments:
Subject:
5.A. Comments from Community
Subject:
5.B. Approve 2025 payable 2026 Levy Certification
Attachments:
Subject:
6. *Comments from visitors
Subject:
6.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:
7. Scheduled presentations: (Max. 10 Minutes)
Subject:
7.A. RAMS - Paul Peltier
Attachments:
Subject:
7.B. Student Council Reports
SP Goal 10
Subject:
8. New business:
Subject:
8.A. Approve consent agenda items as follows:
Subject:
8.A.1. Approve the following School Board Meeting Minutes:
November 17, 2025 - School Board Meeting
November 17, 2025- Board Work Session
December 3, 3025- Board Work Session

 
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.2. Approve financials for the month of November, 2025:
  • Office receipts in the amount of $437,633.38
  • Report of expenditures, including $418,515.41 for bills and $1,006,985.48 for payroll and district contribution to PERA, TRA, OASDI/Medicare and 403(b).
  • Donations in the amount of $23,429.95
  • Wire transfers in the amount of $1,500,000.00
  • Employee reimbursements.
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.3. Approve Resignations
Subject:
8.A.3.a. Cheryl Hannah - Food Service Rippleside Elementary
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.3.b. Kim Chalich - Media Technician 
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.4. Approve Hirings:
Subject:
8.A.4.a. Tia Doble - Rippleside Para Professional
Subject:
8.A.5. Approve Youth In Philanthropy Grants 
9th Grade Field Trip Water Park  - $1000 - fully funded
5th Grade DARE Graduation Celebration — Adventure Zone Duluth — $1000 fully funded
Grad Blast - 2026 - $500 - fully funded 
 
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.6. Approve the Education Minnesota - Aitkin Teachers Master Agreement: 2025-2027
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.7. Approve the Aitkin Education Support Staff Master Agreement - 2025-2027
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.8. Approve Transportation Supervisor Contract - 2025-2026 & 2026-2027
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.9. Approve Food Service Contract 2025-2027
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.10. Teachers Seniority List 2025-2026
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.11. Jake Mehr - Leave of absence 
Attachments:
Subject:
8.A.12. Approve EMA MOU - School Nurse
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B. Discussion Items:
Subject:
8.B.1. Resolution to approve the submission of the Review and Comment for the potential April election.
Subject:
8.B.2. Discuss and approve Costin Lobby Group proposal for 2026
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B.3. Discuss and approve ICS Professional Services Contract
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B.4. Approve Combined Polling Place - Aitkin Public Library
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B.5. Approve Community Education Annual Report 2024-2025
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B.6. Discuss and approve World's Best Workforce - New Name - CACR- Comprehensive Achievement and Civil Readiness assessment 
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B.7. Discuss January and February 2026 Regular Meeting Dates
Subject:
8.B.8. MREA Board of Director's election
Subject:
8.B.9. Paul Grams- Long Term Substitute - Resignation
Attachments:
Subject:
8.B.10. Dan Stifter- Superintendent - Resignation
Attachments:
Subject:
9. Administrative reports:
Subject:
9.A. Board Members Reports:
Subject:
9.B. Committee Reports:
Subject:
9.B.1. Personnel Committee Meeting, December 2, 2025
Attachments:
Subject:
9.C. Principal's Report:
     Mr. Dokken, Rippleside Elementary School
     Ms. DeMars, Aitkin High School
SP Goal 10
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:
December 31, 2025 - Personnel Committee Meeting - 3:45 PM AHS Media Center 
 
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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