At the June 10, 2026, school board meeting, board members David Sovinski, Katie Priebe, Tom Keefe, Jill Harstad and Mark Johnsrud were present. Also present were Superintendent Ed Harris, high school principal, Eric Nelson and activities director, Dan Schindler. Board member Josh Thompson and Principal Shane McBroom were not present.
Reports
Dan Schroeder of Solar Connections was present to explain the solar installation for the elementary school. The cost of the project will be covered by a grant from the state of Minnesota and monies from the federal government. The board will need to approve this and the installation would be scheduled for 2027.
In his written report, principal McBroom stated that the Track and Field Day was brought back with grades K-6 participating at the high school. Once again the fifth graders joined members of the Chatfield American Legion to help set out the flags at the markers of the veterans at the Chatfield cemetery. For the fifth year in a row elementary students enjoyed an afternoon at the pool with CEF funding the transportation and the city of Chatfield providing the lifeguards. Graduating seniors came to the elementary and paired with a kindergartner as an official send off for the seniors. This year the sixth grade was also included in the send-off.
Eric Nelson addressed the policy language changed proposed for Board Policy 620 as a directive of the board. The issue at hand was the inequitable allocation of Chatfield credits for students completing concurrent enrollment courses at the high school and PSEO courses at Minnesota colleges. The first reading of this policy was presented and the board will vote on this at the next meeting. He reported that Chatfield High School students who were mostly juniors took the ACT this spring. They had an average composite score of 21.5 which places them at the 70th percentile. An impressive 85% of the students tested above the national average.
Dan Schindler, retiring athletic director, thanked the board for giving him the opportunity to have the position for 13 years. He talked about the successes the students had, what the new remerging sports are and that coaches must start the three-year cycle of required education this year. He has been working with the incoming athletic director and helping with the new scheduling software, BOUND.
Superintendent Harris provided the school board with an update regarding plans for a new Digital Wall of Fame at the high school. The project will create an interactive display designed to celebrate student achievement, preserve school history, recognize alumni and community contributions and provide useful information to students, families and visitors. It will be in the open area near the bottom of the ramp across from the gymnasium in the high school cafeteria area. He thanked the Chatfield Education Foundation, the American Legion, and the VFW for financially supporting this project. It will provide a modern and engaging way to celebrate the people, accomplishments, and traditions that make Chatfield Public Schools special. Under budget reductions, he proposed a reduction of one coach each in track, dance, baseball and softball with a savings of approximately $14,000 and the elimination of two elementary, SPED para positions due to a large migration of sixth grade SPED students to the high school, saving approximately $30,000.
Discussion
Board member Tom Keefe asked for a discussion on cell phones in the classroom. He sees it as a concern that the board should address. He is also a substitute teacher in the district and sees the effects of cell phones in the classroom. While the district does have a policy in place, he feels it should be revisited to see if it is viable. The board voted to address the issue with a committee of administrators, board members, teachers, parents and students.
Action Items
The board voted to reduce the coaching positions and the two elementary SPED paraprofessional positions as proposed by Superintendent Harris earlier in the meeting. They also approved the deposit of VFW/Legion Donations into a 14 Month CD at Root River State Bank – Veteran’s Memorial Maintenance Fund at 3.45%. Other action items approved were the Designation of MDE IOwA (Identified Official with Authority) for EDIAM (Education Identity Access Management) system, Property/Liability/WC Renewal and the Update to District Population Estimate that sets revenue limits for Community Education. Approval was given for Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Matt Mauseth as AD/ALP (Activities Director/Alternative Learning Program Coordinator). Lastly, the board approved the MSHSL Membership Resolution and the Elementary Solar Proposal for Application with a dissenting vote on both by Dave Sovinski.
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