Caledonia Area Public School board members met Monday, April 21 at Caledonia Elementary School in room #162. Board member Mike Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. then led with the Pledge of Allegiance. All board members, Superintendent Ihrke, Middle/High School Principal Nathan Boler, Elementary Principal John Wahlstrom, and Community Education Director Gretchen Juan were present.
Board member Adamson moved, seconded by Augedahl, to adopt the Agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Board member King moved, seconded by Peterson, to appoint Chad Harms as the new school board member. Motion carried. Peterson and Harms stood up while Harms stated the Oath. “Thanks for doing this Chad, welcome aboard!” stated Peterson.
Caledonia High School social studies teacher Robbie Sobczak along with two high schoolers presented to the board the Green Ribbon Committee. The committee is to advance the school district environmentally with impacts, help with costs, health, wellness, and sustainability education. The presentation included a discussion about the importance of compost in that Caledonia is a farming community, to promote community outreach and support, reduce carbon footprint, reduce waste so the district will spend less with Richard’s Sanitation, and to demonstrate environmental leadership for students. Right now, food waste accounts for roughly 30-40% of school waste. The district generates roughly 500 pounds of compostable waste weekly. They showed a slide of what the compost site would look like. The Committee would partner with Caledonia Lumber and would reach out to the Ag. Tech. class to start building the project. The goal would be to start this project up at the high school within a year and bring it to the elementary school later on. The compost project would not cost the school district any money.
The Green Ribbon Committee also presented how fellow students could assist with the project. Students can sort the compostables. Each grade would take week-long rotations with 5-10 students selected each week. Those selected for compost sorting will be first in line for lunch. The program models Eagle Bluff’s Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, Minn.
In addition to composting, the Green Ribbon Committee also presented to start a schoolwide recycling program. The program would track waste, educate students about recycling, and seek out students to assist in sorting recyclables. Sobczak stated that school nurse Tiffany Hill and Nutrition Services director, Rachel Stackhouse will go to Eagle Bluff to see how this is all done. Sobczak added that compost jobs are sought after by students at Eagle Bluff. Superintendent Craig Ihrke chimed in, stating that the kids who have already been to Eagle Bluff will know what to do. Sobczak informed that the presentation was to make everyone aware.
The board unanimously and graciously accepted the Caledonia Lions Club donating 97.5 volunteer hours to sell athletic tickets for 34 events from November 2024 through March 2025. Motion carried.
Board member Marschall moved, seconded by Augedahl, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried. The Consent Agenda included:
- Approval of the March 17 regular school board meeting minutes.
- Accept a medical leave request from Heidi Myhre to begin September 5 through December 5, 2025.
- Approve the six-month maternity leave request for Alyssa Stecker.
- Accept the resignation of Paul Nickelotti as the high school math teacher and resignation/retirement of Kim Head as special education teacher effective the end of 2024-2025 school year. In addition, accept the resignation of Shanna Gueltzow as CAPS Care teacher effective April 30.
- The hiring of Katherine Stoeckly as a full-time CAPS Care teacher starting May 5.
The board unanimously approved to discontinue the 10 month secretary II position, to add an additional junior high track coaching position for the 2024-2025 school year, and to add an additional junior high baseball coaching position for the 2024-2025 school year. Daren Walk was approved to be hired as the junior boys and girls track coach. Wes Stemper was approved to be hired as the junior high baseball coach. The additional coaches were hired due to increased participants.
The board approved Harms to take over former school board member Tim Gunn’s committees. Board member Yohe stated he may potentially step down from HVED (Hiawatha Valley Education District). Peterson asked, “Do we have any volunteers for HVED?” Marschall questioned when the HVED meetings were.
Adminstrative reports were shared.
Old Business
The board briefly discussed an update on both the district’s Strategic Plan and HVED project.
The meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
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