Caledonia Public School board members met Monday, July 21 at Caledonia Elementary School in room #162. Mike Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. then led with the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members present included Peterson, Chad Harms, Leigh King and Melissa Marschall. Board members Derek Adamson, Julie Augedahl and Spencer Yohe were absent. District employees present included Superintendent Craig Ihrke, Elementary Principal John Wahlstrom, and Community Education Director Gretchen Juan. Middle and high school principal, Nathan Boler was absent.
King moved, seconded by Harms, to adopt the Agenda. Motion carried.
The board recognized Just Stitch It-Meisch Upholstery for donating their time and supplies in repairing the district’s gymnastics mat.
No Student School Board Member Report or Public Comment took place.
The Consent Agenda received unanimous approval following the addition of three new items.
The board accepted the resignation of Katie King as secretary I, Susan Howe as elementary school counselor, and Sarah Schroeder as the One Act Play advisor. Apart from resignations, there was one new hire, Liza Bruce as a full-time special education teacher for the 2025-2026 school year.
A brief discussion took place in regards to the school crossing guard agreement between ISD #299 and the city of Caledonia. Superintendent Ihkre acknowledged the agreement needs to be renewed yearly and that it is challenging to fill the position. Harms questioned if grandparents could be asked for potential interest in the position. “We can certainly try and reach out more,” stated Ihrke. Peterson moved, seconded by Harms, to approve the agreement. Motion carried.
In a 4-0 vote, the board approved Superintendent Ihrke to be the Designated of Identified Official with Authority for the MDE (Minnesota Department of Education) External User Access Recertification System. Ihrke stated each district needs a designated person. He added that he has been serving this position for the last seven years.
The board next reviewed the fall coaching contracts for the 2025-2026 school year. The following coaches were hired for football: Carl Fruechte as head, Brent Schroeder as assistant, Daniel Muenkel as assistant, Zach Hauser as ninth grade, Mason Staggemeyer as eighth grade, and Mitchell Bechtel as seventh grade. For girls soccer, Chris Jandt was hired as head coach and Valerie Williams as assistant coach. For boys soccer, Jay Marschall was hired as head coach with Timothy Weisbrod as assistant coach. The following coaches were hired for volleyball, Dan Reinhart as head, Tori Burmester as assistant, Alissa Diersen as junior high (ninth grade), Rachel Welsh as junior high (eighth grade), and Rachel Stackhouse as junior high (seventh grade). In a 3-0 vote with Marschall abstaining, the coaching contract received approval.
After the coaching contracts ,board members reiewed the co-curricular coaching contracts for the 2025-2026 school year. The following staff will take part: Erin Spencer with the Minnesota Honor Society, Stacey Meyer with both the school musical and yearbook co-coach, Teri Larson with yearbook co-coach and student council and BPA (Business Professionals of America), Richard Larson as FFA Advisor, Becky Breeser with the Jr. High Knowledge Bowl, Dan Winkler with the Sr. Knowledge Bowl, and Jeff Babinski with the Robotics program. As of now the One Act Play and school musical assistant positions are vacant. The contracts received unanimous approval.
Superintendent Ihrke led a brief discussion about scheduling public meetings for the early start renewal which would begin the 2026-2027 school year. Ihrke informed this is the district’s sixth year in a row in starting their school year before Labor Day. With the last renewal for the district’s earlier start, a survey conducted showed 70% of the residents were okay with the early start. At the time there had been three meetings that took place before the regular school board meeting that lasted half an hour each. Board members unanimously approved to hold three special half-hour meetings before the regular school board meeting for the months of October, November and December of 2025.
The board meeting came to adjournment at 6:09 p.m.
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