At its September 15 meeting, the Mabel-Canton School Board set the preliminary levy at the maximum level and set the Truth-in-Taxation hearing and final levy certification for December 15 at 6:01 p.m., prior to the regularly scheduled school board meeting.
The board was reminded that the levy cannot increase, but it can be reduced when the official levy is set in December.
Chairman Chris Miller called the Mabel-Canton School Board meeting to order at 6 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members present included Dustin Tollefsrud, Traci Livingood, Diane Wilder, Amber Tripp, Mark Weidemann and Miller. Jason Marquardt was absent.
The board unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the August 18 school board meeting. There were no announcements or public comments.
The unanimously approved consent agenda included paying bills totaling $1,345,725.12; hiring Emma Tollefsrud as district secretary and adding her as an authorized signer on BMO account 1846, the student activities account; and accepting paraprofessional Jenna Stortz’s resignation. The consent agenda also included accepting a $1,750 donation from the M-C Booster Club to be divided among football, volleyball, cheer, boys and girls basketball, softball, and baseball; a $25 donation from an anonymous donor to the science department in memory of Glen Hines, former M-C science teacher; and a $1,500 donation from Mabel/Newburg Methodist Church to the K-2 Scholastic Reading Program. The donors were thanked for their generous donations.
Administrative Reports
Principal Michelle Weidemann announced that there will be a student representative at future board meetings.
Wilder reported that Superintendent Mike Harvey and Gary Kuphal attended the Hiawatha Valley Education District open house and that the facilities look nice.
According to Weidemann school is off to a good start. She said the district piloted online registration and received positive comments, along with feedback on items that still need work. “I think parents really appreciated being able to go online,” she said.
The school has added new students and are doing well. She thanked the band for performing in the Steam Engine Days parade, noting that although the group is small, members gave it a good effort and sounded good. Board members echoed her comments. She also said new band instructor Nate Kroshus is passionate about music and band, and the district plans to continue performing in the Saturday parade.
Weidemann also reported that the senior class helped Matt Swenson with cleanup on Monday, and Swenson made a donation to the senior class. She said the district still has a couple of open positions and encouraged people to spread the word. This Thursday is the Miller Invitational FFA Judging contest, and the Bluff Country Collaborative Career Fair in Caledonia. Homecoming is also fast approaching.
Superintendent Mike Harvey shared that the school’s long-term facilities maintenance plan was submitted to the state and approved without any recommended changes. Harvey also reported that the average health insurance increase for the district’s group is 15.97%, effective January 1, 2027. He said solar commissioning is complete and the school is now generating power. Enrollment is up to 261 students, compared with 250 at the end of last year. Harvey also noted cybersecurity training and monitoring through Ed Midwest LLC.
Business Manager Jaxon Marine presented a budget update, saying he hopes to have more of a concrete update to present to the board next month. He said the start of fiscal year 2027 is looking good. There is a mistake on the financial reports because of an incorrect form the school received from Fillmore County. It has now been corrected.
Bond Referendum Project Gary Kuphal was on hand to give an update on the construction project. Once again, he gave board members a tour of the school before the start of the meeting. Kuphal said a lot has been accomplished since last month, and he guessed that board members would say that they could see the progress made during that time.
In other business, the board
•Accepted the Hiawatha Valley Mental Health contract for school-linked services.
•Approved hiring a .2 FTE (full-time equivalent) teacher for the kindergarten class.
•Hired Stephanie Morken as .2 FTE (full-time equivalent) kindergarten support.
•Approved the Foster Care Transportation agreement.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
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