Caledonia Area Public School board members met Monday, May 18 at Caledonia Elementary School in room 162. Board member Mike Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., led with the Pledge of Allegiance, then conducted roll call. Board members present included Derek Adamson, Chad Harms, Leigh King, Melissa Marschall, Whitney Steele, and Peterson. Julie Augedahl was absent. District employees present were Superintendent Craig Ihrke, principals Nathan Boler and John Wahlstrom, and Community Education Director Gretchen Juan.
Shawn Bauer addressed the board about the district’s practice of not allowing sporting games on Wednesdays. Bauer stated that due to not having Wednesdays, there was an issue where 11 games were played over the course of nine days. Bauer asked for the possibility of one game, strictly varsity home game, to be held on a Wednesday and to use Wednesdays as a makeup date. He noted that 12 of the 16 teams in the section play on Wednesdays. Bauer stated the games on Wednesdays would not interfere with confirmation and that he supports religion. He added that he does not want to hurt or take away anything from religion. Bauer wanted to look into solutions. Ihrke replied that this could be discussed. The board decided to have the activities committee of Harms, King and Adamson speak with Activities Director Scott Sorenson.
The board graciously accepted a monetary donation from Caledonia Area Elementary PACE toward a bounce house for the elementary school’s field day.
Student School Board representative, Samantha Peters presented her last board member report since she is a graduating senior. She informed that softball, baseball, golf and track are going well. The senior class’ last day of school was Monday, May 18. Throughout the rest of that week, seniors had graduation practice, a walk through the local schools dressed in their caps and gowns, ending with their graduation ceremony on Friday, May 22. “Thank you all for having me,” said Peters. She shared that she will be attending Minnesota State College Southeast Technical to pursue her associate’s in nursing and later transfer. Peters received applause.
The resignations of Noah Kearney, Jadi Heaney, and Katie Tornstrom as special education paraprofessionals, in addition to Kearney as boys basketball coach, were accepted. The board approved the hiring of Mitch Mullins as an ADSIS paraprofessional, Josh Diersen as head girls basketball coach, Cassidy Trussoni as MSHS social studies teacher, and Beth McDonald as an ADSIS paraprofessional.
The board approved the hiring of Wes Stemper as a second junior high baseball coach due to the baseball program’s increase in numbers.
Middle & High School Principal Boler presented his brief administrative report. During that week, seniors would have senior awards night on Tuesday, graduation practice, and a walk through. He also noted Monday to be the seniors’ last official day with credits all checked. Boler worked with next month’s summer school for students to make up credits. He informed the math MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) scores showed good growth, the science scores have not been looked at yet, and the reading scores are not yet in.
Elementary Principal Wahlstrom said fourth and fifth graders at the elementary school held their Wax Museum Science Fair. The fourth graders held a wax museum where each student selected a historical figure to research about. When students did their presentation they had a button on their hand where visitors could press, then the student presented information about their chosen person. The fifth graders held a science fair where they learned about research and testing their hypothesis. Wahlstrom said one student tested three different soil types to test plant growth. Wahlstrom was excited to have Mullins and McDonald return for the 2026-2027 school year as intervention paraprofessionals. He said the students are lucky to have them. Wahlstrom ended with stating the fifth grade class promotion is 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 21.
Community Education Director Juan shared that MCA testing is completed and went well. She said there are a lot of new staff hired for the summer with CAPS Care fully staffed.
The board concluded their meeting with reviewing school policies 404-409 and policies 412-415.
The meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m.
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