Mabel-Canton welcomed 20 new students to the district this year. “Enrollment is currently at about 260,” Superintendent Jennifer Backer stated. “We haven’t seen those numbers in a while. It’s normal for them to ebb and flow all the time, but they’ve been maintaining over the last few years.” The new students were introduced to the student body at the pep fest along with the seven new staff members.
The board approved the hiring of Connor Jones as the new music teacher. A maternity leave was approved for 6th grade teacher Kati Bergey beginning around November 5.
Interim Administrator and Dean of Students Michelle Weidemann was authorized to sign onto the student activity account, and Superintendent Jennifer Backer was authorized as the Title IX and Human Right Officer for the school.
A school supply donation valued at approximately $200 from the Mabel and Newburg Methodist churches was accepted with thanks from the board.
Susie Monroe was approved as a Q-Comp coordinator, Lori Schutte and Ruth Ann Saquitne as lead teachers, and Pam Rasmussen, Paul Tollefsrud, and Lana Hollar as committee members for the 2016-17 school year.
The district business manager, Aimee Lake reported that the current budget is looking good, and final audit report numbers will be available in November or December.
“We will continue to look at the budget every month,” Superintendent Backer noted. “In February or March, we will be looking at what cuts we need to make for the next year.”
Board Member Bobbi Jo Torgerson suggested reaching out to local organizations such as the Booster Club and the Legion to get support for uniforms and other purchases needed at the school.
Board Member Jane Hall asked if the gate money received at the football games should be split with the cheerleaders as well since the squad is now a line item on the budget. “We can definitely look into it,” Superintendent Backer assured her. However the gate money is intended to be used for the competitive sport at the event, a category which cheerleading does not fit into as the squad is there for entertainment and morale so she wasn’t sure how it would work.
The board approved the maximum proposed levy on the recommendation of business manager Aimee Lake. She pointed out that it does not cover a specific amount, and things can always change. “We can always go down, but we can’t go up,” she pointed out.
Backer noted that the process for distributing information about the referendum has already begun with information handed out at the school’s open house several weeks ago. There will be events in Canton and Mabel to keep everyone informed and involved in the decisions. Updated information on the referendum will be available on the school’s website, and advertising will be placed in the local newspapers.
Doug Wyffels presented four bids to the school board for the senior class trip. After reviewing the bids, they decided to go with Hawkeye and Legacy, as they have done in past years. Hawkeye provides the bus and driver, Legacy provides the tour services. The cost per student will be $1,825 for a 10 day trip.
“We started school off with a bang,” Michelle Weidemann said about the many activities that have taken place since school started earlier in the month. She went on to the thank the new band teacher, Connor Jones, for his hard work. “He had a lot on his plate the first few weeks of school,” she said.
Twenty-three teams were present for the Miller Invitational General Livestock Judging Contest hosted by the Miller family and the Mabel-Canton FFA. The food was supplied by Taher. “We were worried about the weather, but it all went well!” Backer said. The event has been taking place since 1967.
The school received a $500 grant for the ag and shop classes.
The next meeting will be held on October 18 at 7 p.m.