Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
The Mabel-Canton School Board met in regular session on October 15, with all members present. The board unanimously approved moving forward with a bond referendum not to exceed $8.94 million.
Sue Peterson of ISG and Jason Peterson of Kraus-Anderson were on hand to review the results of the survey, the costs, and financing so the board could make an information decision. The results were presented to the facilities committee the week before and some tweaking was made to the list of projects and the budget. Board members that serve on the facilities committee shared their thoughts based on last week’s discussion.
Chairman Cristal Adkins called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and led her colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The agenda, with one addition and the minutes of the September 17 regular school board meeting, were approved.
Board members present included Cristal Adkins, Chris Miller, Diane Wilder, Traci Livingood, Dustin Tollesfsrud, Jason Marquardt and Mark Weidemann. Also present was Student Representative Rachelle Tollefsrud.
Andrew Forliti, CPA with Smith Schafer, began his presentation by noting that the 2024 audit received an unmodified “clean” opinion. Forliti explained, “This is the highest level of assurance you can receive on the financial statement.” At the conclusion of his presentation, Forliti summarized the audit results: “General Fund revenues exceeded expenditures by $619,115 for 2024. The UFARA unassigned General Fund balance as of June 30, 2024, is $826,735, or 19.04%, of current general fund expenditures compared to $670,528 as of June 30, 2023, or 16.38% of General Fund expenditures.” The board unanimously approved the school’s 2024 financial audit.
The approved consent agenda included the claims report, the hiring of Dustin Tollefsrud as the school’s drama club coach, and expressions of gratitude to several contributors; M-C Booster Club for their donation of pizza and drinks for the homecoming dance, the Mabel Fire Department for providing the water and chips for the homecoming tailgate meal, and the city of Mabel for the waiving the rental fee of the community center for the homecoming dance. Additionally, thanks were extended to Stephanie Liddiard for the trap set for the school band. All donors were recognized for their generous donations. Tollefsrud abstained from voting.
Superintendent Gary Kuphal reported on the broken sewer line which has been found. “It is 10 feet down in Jordan Nelson’s science room,” according to his written report. “They had to break up the concrete in the floor and dig down 10 feet to locate the break. A part has been ordered from Texas, and then Bill Richardson will be able to fix it. It will take next week yet to fix it, but the science teachers should be back in their rooms after the MEA break.” Concrete will be poured by Gjere Construction, and the school is looking at replacing all the flooring in the room since it has not held up as well as they would have liked. Based on the bills they have received, the repair is going to be expensive. Kuphal also said, “On an unrelated matter, there is a slow leak in the water line to the science rooms, and that will be fixed next week during the MEA break.”
The board unanimously approved the list of advisors and winter coaches, with Diane Wilder abstaining. The winter coaches for boys basketball are Russell Larson (varsity), Jeff Rein (junior varsity), Adam Wilder (assistant), and Paul Tollefsrud (junior high). The volunteers for boys basketball are Sarah Tollesfrud and Jordan Larson. Jon Wangsness is the junior high girls basketball coach, with Courtney Graves and Tessia Wangsness serving as volunteers. Heather Kleiboer as the varsity cheerleading coach.
In other business the board:
- Unanimously approved the snow removal bid from the sole bidder, Four Season Maintenance, for $135 per time.
- Accepted the Fillmore County Foster Care transportation agreement as they have done every pass year.
- Passed on the election of the MSDLAD Trustees.
- Accepted the MSHSL Foundation A application form.
- Added Policy 721 – Uniform Grant Guidance to the agenda for the first reading.
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