LPGE School Board Proceedings

School Board Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, June 17, 2024
The Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by Chairman Lemke at 6:00 pm, Monday, June 17, 2024 in the District Board Room 209. Board members present: Gohman, Lemke, Levin, Lux, Wolf and Wright. Others in attendance were: Superintendent Daniel Ludvigson, Sherri Evenson, Tammy Cebulla, Barton Rud, Mitchell Ganske, Randy Meyer, Jim Downes, Carissa Bitz, Maressa Rousslange, David Nelson, Christopher Johnson, Jennifer Houdek, Patti Larson, Chantel Panek, Barb Graves, Lori Hovey, Heather Luebesmier, Bonnie Middendorf, Erin Gillie, Stacy Dirks-Custer, Chet Hudalla, Tom Zastrow, Ryan Bothun, Chris Psihos, Max Psihos, Vanessa Wielenberg, Ashley Pesta, Missy Becker, Jonathan Young, Jenny Thelen, Lauralee Mertes, Audrey Morrill, Amy Moldenhauer, Mike Wiener, Marion Wiener, David Blanchard, Tracy Schultz, Nancy Hillman, Luan Brunkhorst, Cindy Dalton and Amanda Hinson of the Long Prairie Leader.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
Member Hinson addressed the board turning in his resignation effective immediately. He left the meeting at 6:03.
Member Lux addressed the board turning in her resignation effective June 28, 2024.
It was moved by Wolf to adopt the agenda with the addition of a Chromebook lease being added under new business. Levin seconded the motion. Motion unanimously carried.
It was moved by Levin to approve the following Consent Agenda with the addition of two resignations, Ruda and Vogel. Lux seconded the motion:
CA-1. Regular meeting minutes May 20, 2024
CA-2. Bills
CA-2a. Prewrite checks numbered to and including 21524-21571=$223,558.64
Checks numbered to and including 21572-21669=$794,899.78 – FY23-24
Checks numbered to and including 21670-21697=$48,015.38 – FY24-25
CA-2b. Fund Transfers:
Date Type Vendor Amount
5/7/24 WX ELECTRONIC FED TAX PAY SYSTEM 19447.01
5/7/24 WX COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE 2744.95
5/7/24 WX PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMT ASSN 13881.49
5/7/24 WX TEACHERS RETIREMENT ACCOUNT 40.66
5/17/24 WX PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMT ASSN 37943.21
5/17/24 WX TEACHERS RETIREMENT ACCOUNT 80056.22
5/15/24 WX COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE 30382.11
5/15/24 WX ELECTRONIC FED TAX PAY SYSTEM 168394.04
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 7263.54
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 3317.04
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 750.01
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 16.1
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 3333.38
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 150
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 4785.47
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 3846.73
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 420.01
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 425
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 333.34
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 1984.17
5/15/24 WX AVIBEN 1716.64
5/14/24 WX EYE MED VISION CARE, LLC 286.46
5/14/24 WX HEALTH PARTNERS 110507.38
5/14/24 WX DELTA DENTAL OF MN 3677.86
5/31/24 WX AMERICAN HERITAGE NATL BANK 49
5/31/24 WX REVTRAK INC 738.32
5/31/24 WX EMPOWER 1185
5/14/24 WX BMO 9643.18
5/31/24 WX MINNESOTA NATIONAL BANK 10
CA-2c. Revolving checks numbered to and including – 5816-5828=$623.75
CA-2d. P-Card Statement.
CA-3. Financial Report 2023
CA-4 Personnel
A. New Hires
1) Matt Mills – Lane B Custodian night shift
2) Eugene Holmquist – Lane A Custodian night shift
3) Sue Hayungs (para/health aid)
The following appointments are made contingent upon adequate enrollment/participation in the program. The board retains broad discretion to discontinue programs, without notice if enrollment/participation is not adequate.
1) Nikke Rohde – Volunteer Tennis Coach
B. Accept the following resignations:
1) Nathan Ruda – Junior High Boys Basketball Coach
2) Jessica Vogel – Elementary Para
C. Conferences/Training:
June 24 – Summer Artificial Intelligence Training for School Leaders,
August 5 – MSBA Back to School Conference
CA-5 Lead in Water Management Plan
CA-6 Finalized Custodial MOU
CA-7 Policy 533 Wellness
CA-8 Resolution of election Notice
Motion unanimously carried.
Representative Mike Wiener shared his thoughts regarding housing, business growth in central Minnesota, and how we have both challenges and opportunities here in central Minnesota.
Chris Psihos from iDeal Energies shared information regarding the solar grant and plans for the solar panels to be placed on the thermal field at the secondary school.
Mitchell Ganske presented a Chromebook lease for the secondary that will be new this year. This lease will be for five years instead of four as we have had in the past. Member Gohman moved to accept the new lease as presented. Member Wolf seconded the motion. Motion unanimously passed.
Superintendent Ludvigson gave his report and budget is tracking to finish in the green. Federal title funds experienced a reduction due to pulling poverty numbers from 2022. Rates sharply dipped that year and we anticipate that trending back up due to current free and reduced lunch numbers indicating high poverty. The superintendent’s minute was some strategies for responding to concerns as a board member.
Board Highlight – LPGE Trap JV team finished 11th and the Novice team finished 13th at the Trap Shooting Championship in Alexandria. Community Ed has a very high registration for Summer Academy and high interest in the summer programming. 12u Predators placed 2nd at the John Hellie Tournament in Pierz and received a bid to the MSF state tournament. Caroline Kuehne placed 10th at the State Track meet in the 1600m. Congratulations to all our graduates – seniors, 6th graders and kindergarteners. Thank you to Steve Hinson and Stacy Lux for their service on the LPGE School Board. Thank you to Mr. Rud, Audrey Morrill, Jonathan Young, Chris Dubois, and Russ Bruder for a smooth graduation program with the new changes that were implemented. Baseball team did very well and had a great playoff run and the track team did well at subsections.
Dean of Students MOU - Discussion was held around the benefits of looking into an SRO. Possibilities related to assistance with drug screenings, classes like DARE, security planning, and working as a liaison between the school and the police department were mentioned. The administration mentioned this would be more beneficial than simply splitting the Dean of Students and Counseling position apart. Member Wolf moved we move ahead with the MOU for the Dean of Students. Lux seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
The donation resolution was moved by Levin and seconded by Wright:
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DONATIONS for June 2024
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes 123B.02, Subd. 6 provides: “The board may receive, for the benefit of the district, bequests, donations, or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to the purpose designated. In that behalf, the board may act as trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district, or for the benefit of pupils thereof, including trusts created to provide pupils of the district with advanced education after completion of high school, in the advancement of education.”; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes 465.03 provides: “Any city, county, school district or town may accept a grant or device of real or personal property and maintain such property for the benefit of its citizens in accordance with the terms prescribed by the donor. Nothing herein shall authorize such acceptance or use for religious or sectarian purposes. Every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full.”; and
WHEREAS, every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the School Board of Long Prairie Grey Eagle, ISD 2753, gratefully accepts the following donations as identified below:
Donor Item Designated Purpose (if any)
Minnesota National Bank $100 Activities Banquet
Vanguard Insurance Services $100 Activities Banquet
Oscar Jacobson American Legion Post 417 $1,350 Golf
Browerville Lions $1,500 Golf
Lions Club of Long Prairie $500 Elementary Color Run
Rahn’s Oil & Propane, Inc $500 Elementary Color Run
Todd County AFSCME Union $50 Elementary Color Run
Peace United Church (Women of Peace) $50 Elementary Color Run
Long Prairie Rotary Club $250 Elementary Color Run
Lakeland Dental, PLLC $250 Elementary Color Run
The Blackbaud Giving Fund (Casey’s) $500 Elementary Color Run
Phillip’s Repairables & Collison Center, LLC $500 Elementary Color Run
ECP Enterprise-CP.LLC $500 Elementary Color Run
Long Prairie Leader/Practical Printing LLC $500 Elementary Color Run
American Legion Post 12 $531.55 Gymnastics
American Legion Post 12 $586.45 Gymnastics
Long Prairie Dairy Queen $250 Activities
Advantage 1 Insurance Agency $250 Activities
The vote on adoption of the Resolution was as follows:
Aye: Gohman, Lemke, Levin, Lux, Wolf and Wright
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Whereupon, said Resolution was declared duly adopted.
Member Gohman made a motion to approve the revised 2023-24 budget. Member Wolf seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Member Wolf made a motion to approve the preliminary 2024-25 budget. Member Lux seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Vacant board position discussion was held on what actions need to be taken. Member Levin made a motion to proceed with the following: Applications due by July 8th at noon along with a letter of intent and a resume. There will be a special meeting on July 10th at 6pm for interviews. Members will be appointed at the July 15th meeting. Appointed members will start official meetings at the August 19th meeting. Member Wright seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Member Gohman made a motion for a second in-house substitute position be filled. Member Wright seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Member Wolf made a motion to approve the Solar Grant Resolution. Member Gohman seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Member Gohman made a motion to approve the contracts for the following positions: Licensed Practical Nurse, Speech Language Pathology Assistant, and the Onboarding & Exiting Specialist. Member Wolf seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Ludvigson waived his privacy rights to have an open evaluation meeting. All evaluations were compiled to a spreadsheet and shared with the board prior to the meeting. Converting the evaluations to a 4-point scale the average score would be 2.49. Mr. Ludvigson asked if this was a satisfactory score and received no answer. There was no further discussion.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 pm by Chairman Lemke.
Tanja Levin,
Clerk
JY24C

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School Board Minutes
Special Meeting
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
The Special Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by Chairman Lemke at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, June 10, 2024 in the District Board Room 209. Purpose of the meeting is to interview candidates for two open school board positions.
Board members present: Gohman, Lemke, Levin, Wolf and Wright. Others in attendance were: Superintendent Daniel Ludvigson, Tammy Cebulla, Barton Rud, Lori Hovey, Patti Larson, Kyle Lamb, Kari Lamb, Chris Johnson, Carissa Bitz, Vanessa Wielenberg, Cindy Dalton and Amanda Hinson of the Long Prairie Leader. Interviewees in attendance were Josiah Tonder, Lori Hollenkamp, Jeremiah Zahnow, Thomas Zastrow, Erin Jager and Colin King.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
Interviews were held with each candidate: Josiah Tonder, Lori Hollenkamp, Jeremiah Zahnow, Thomas Zastrow, Erin Jager and Colin King.
Discussion was held about the interviews and written votes were taken from each member. Votes were: Gohman – Jager, Zastrow; Lemke – Jager, Tonder; Levin – Jager, Tonder; Wolf – King, Zastrow; Wright – Tonder, Jager. The top two candidates were Tonder and Jager. Member Levin made a motion that they appoint Josiah Tonder to the 2-year term position and Erin Jager to the 4-year term position. Member Wolf seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 pm by Chairman Lemke.
Tanja Levin,
Clerk
JY24C
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