At the October 12, 2026, school board meeting, board members David Sovinski, Tom Keefe, Josh Thompson, Jill Harstad, Mark Johnsrud and Katie Priebe were present. Also present were Superintendent Ed Harris, elementary principal Shane McBroom, high school principal Eric Nelson, activities director and ALP coordinator Matt Mauseth, and student senate representative Rylee Urban.
Reports
Rylee Urban reported that Homecoming went fairly well and that their next project is a Christmas fundraiser. Mark Johnsrud had attended a community education meeting where discussion focused on the program’s direction after LuAnn Kleven retires later this year.
Matt Mauseth was happy to announce that 200-plus students are involved in fall activities. He also mentioned that the weight room is being used by many of the students. The activities department has transitioned to the BOUND platform, which expedites scheduling, registration, and ticketing and allows coaches to stay in touch with their athletes. Chatfield has also contracted with NSPN (Neighborhood Sports Network/Prep Spotlight TV) to help with live events of school activities. In his role as ALP (Alternative Learning Program) coordinator, he stated that there are 10 students enrolled and that new rules and expectations have been implemented. He thanked the CEF (Chatfield Education Foundation) for helping with TIC (Trout in the Classroom) expenses for the ALP. This program is an interdisciplinary, hands-on environmental education program where students raise trout from eggs to fingerlings in a classroom aquarium before releasing them into a local state-approved stream.
Shane McBroom noted that Homecoming activities at the elementary school went very well, even though some events had to be cancelled or rescheduled because of the weather, and the Color Run for the Read, Deed, and Move program was held the next Friday. Last Wednesday the area Special Athletic Competition was held with Lanesboro, Rushford-Peterson and St. Charles schools attending as well. McBroom stated this is one of the events in elementary school that he looks forward to and heartily supports it. FastBridge assessments are completed and interventions are in full swing from the results. Once again, the MCA tests for the elementary school were very good and were above the statewide proficiency percentages. McBroom stated that we must realize these are just one snapshot of the abilities of our students and we will use the data to review where we are at and look at opportunities to improve.
Eric Nelson said the work team that has been reviewing cell phone issues are gathering information by sending out feedback forms to K-12 parents, students and staff. They will compile the information and prepare a report of the findings and potential recommendations for the next board meeting. This winter the high school will be using the SAEBRS screener (Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener) to assist in identifying social, academic, and emotional behavior needs in grades 7-12. It only takes about three minutes to administer and the results will be immediately available to the Student Assistance Team (SAT). The screener is a brief, norm referenced tool for screening all students to identify those who are at risk for social-emotional behavior problems. It is built to assess both the absence of problem behaviors and symptomatology (e.g., internalizing and externalizing behaviors) and the presence of well-being and competencies (e.g., social-emotional skills).
All parents will receive information about the winter administration of the screener. The parents of students that are identified as demonstrating need will also be notified by the SAT team. Nelson also mentioned that this fall the school is examining how to provide clarity to our students on the use and misuse of AI. He and Superintendent Harris are working to try to narrow the current gaps that are potentially hampering that clarity. One of the things that is in development is a syllabus statement related to AI. They will continue to refined that document prior to asking the board to vote on it. He also reminded everyone that fall conferences will be on Monday, October 19. There will be appointments available for families during the afternoon and will shift to drop-in meetings in the evening.
Superintendent Harris responded to a request from the last meeting as what the tax impact of a 3.3% general levy increase would be on a $250,000 home. It would be $7 or a .0028%. The employee health insurance committee is considering proposals from MHC (MN Healthcare Consortium), which is a statewide pool of service cooperatives and the district’s current carrier. The other proposal is from Blue Cross Blue Shield. The increase for the next year is approximately 16%. The next meeting will be next Monday, October 19 at 3:15 p.m. Included in his report, he indicated that there was an extra day in the last calendar revision and asked to approve changing April 29, 2027, to a vacation day. This was approved by the board as well as the 2027-2028 calendar, which is very similar to the 2026-2027 calendar.
Consent Items
The following consent items were approved by the board:
• September 9, 2026, school board meeting minutes;
• Resignations: Sadie Baker, Anna Olson, Maddison Andrist and Lauren Sprout from Valleyland and Savannah Vold, assistant wrestling coach;
• Job postings: Head girls wrestling coach;
• New Hires: Josie Pearson and Kelsey Mehus as preschool assistant substitutes.
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