Mabel-Canton Certifies Election Votes

The Mabel-Canton School Board met in regular session on Wednesday, November 13, with all board members present. The board unanimously approved the November 5 State General Election results.

There were four seats open in the M-C school board election. A total of 708 votes were cast for Mark Weidemann, 656 votes for Jason Marquardt, 753 votes for Chris Miller, and 241 write-in votes, with Amber Tripp receiving 101 votes, Haley Hershberger receiving 52 votes, and 58 others receiving between one and six votes each. including Donald Duck, a Democrat, and Trump each receiving one vote. 

Chairwoman Cristal Adkins called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and led her colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The revised agenda and the minutes from the October 15 regular school board meeting were unanimously approved.

All board members were present: Cristal Adkins, Chris Miller, Diane Wilder, Traci Livingood, Dustin Tollefsrud, Jason Marquardt and Mark Weidemann. 

The approved consent agenda included the 2024-25 budget, donations from the Area Council of Churches ($916.76) for school supplies, Mabel and Newburg United Methodist Churches ($1,000) for the PreK-2 reading program, Mabel Fire Department ($200) for cleaning the ditch, and First Southeast Bank ($635) for the school’s milk and healthy snack program. It also included the approval of Amy Kampschroer as the junior high girls basketball volunteer coach and Peyton Klimesh as volunteer assistant cheer coach, with Courtney Graves being replaced as the junior high girls basketball volunteer coach.

Principal Michelle Wiedemann thanked all those involved with the school’s Veterans Day program. It was a success.

Superintendent Gary Kuphal introduced Amber Tripp, who will join the board in January. Cristal Adkins’ term ends on January 1, 2025.

In other business the board:

• Approved by roll call the resolution relating to the issuance of school building bonds, setting April 8, 2025, as the date of the election.
• Approved the vendor, Solar Connections, for the solar array project, contingent on reference checks and satisfactory answers to a couple of questions. After grants and federal funding, the cost to the school is $43,939.00. Solar Connections is responsible for submitting the grant application in December. The application requires a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Mabel, which is expected to be approved at the November 13 city council meeting.
• Unanimously approved the World’s Best Workforce/Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Report. A summary of the report can be found on the school’s website.
• Accepted the facilities committee’s recommendation to upgrade security in the main office at just under $4,200. The upgrades include a camera, intercom, and buzzer. 
• Approved the facilities committee recommendation to install the elementary digital controls for heating and cooling at a cost of $161,200. The funds to pay for the controls will come from the remaining money from the previous bond referendum.
• Approved Policy 721, Uniform Grant Guidance. This was the second reading.
• Approved the claims after Kuphal explained that not all the bills for the broken sewer have come in. The current total is $38,000, and the school is waiting on at least two more bills: one from Gjere Construction for filling in the hole and concrete work, and another for the flooring, which has not been completed. Kuphal estimates the total will reach $50,000 once the project is complete. He also informed the board that there is a $25,000 deductible, and once all the bills are in, he will have a conversation with the school’s insurance agent about whether it is wise to submit a claim. A key question is how much the school’s premiums will increase if a claim is submitted.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.