Mabel-Canton School Board Approves Sale of Bonds

The Mabel-Canton School Board held its regular meeting on May 20 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 50, Mrs. Peter’s science classroom. Board Chair Chris Miller opened the meeting and led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Senior Municipal Advisor Jodie Zesbaugh with Ehlers & Associates presented a presale report for the voter approved school building bonds.  The board unanimously approved the resolution approving the sale of the General Obligation School Building Bonds, Series 2025A, in an amount not to exceed $8,940,000.00.

Zesbaugh explained that since the interest rates have volatile, Ehlers did not know where the rates would be this summer, so a 5% interest rate was used. She shared that the good news is that the combined rate came in at 4.66%.

Superintendent Gary Kuphal updated the board on the construction timeline.

Board members present included Traci Livingood, Dustin Tollefsrud, Diane Wilder, Amber Tripp, and Chairman Chris Miller. Members Jason Marquardt and Mark Weidemann were absent.

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

The board approved the revised consent agenda in a single motion. Items included in the approval were: the 2024-2025 budget, claims, the resignations of Kristena Guevara (Special Education Paraprofessional), Lana Hollar (National Honor Society), and Sam Farnen (Band and Music Teacher). Additionally, four donations were accepted: a green screen and accessories for Media Classes valued at $500 donated by Aubrey Norby, $200 to the cheerleaders for cleaning ditches, donated by the Mabel Fire Department; and $100 each to the band and choir departments from an anonymous donor.

Superintendent Kuphal presented Student Representative Rachelle Tollefsrud with a service award from the Minnesota School Boards Association, recognizing her two years of student leadership on the school board.

Student Representative Rachelle Tollefsrud listed off the dates of end-of-school activities. Following her report, Superintendent Kuphal presented Tollefsrud with a service award from the Minnesota School Boards Association, honoring her two years of dedicated student leadership on the school board.

PreK-12 Principal Michelle Weidemann predicts that the teachers will once again come out on top in the upcoming softball game against the sixth graders. She also extended her gratitude to the Mabel Public Library for bringing the Dazzling Dave Yo-Yo event to the school. 

Superintendent Gary Kuphal shared with the board the results of the senior exit interviews, a tradition he has done for many years-even before his time at Mabel-Canton. He explained that he typically asks three key questions: to share a about themselves and their families, to discuss their plans after high school, and to reflect on their experience at Mabel-Canton, including both the positives and areas for improvement. 

“Staff are consistently mentioned, how they really get to know the students as individuals, not just as students,” Kuphal noted. “They don’t just comment about high school teachers. They comment about elementary teachers as well, and how they’ve had a positive experience.”

In other business, the board took the following actions:

• Approved adding 0.2 FTE Spanish II and 0.1 FTE Agricultural Science classes.
• Renewed the Cooperative Sports Agreement with Spring Grove for girls basketball, with the only change being the updated team name: Spring Grove/Mabel-Canton.
• Conducted the first reading of Policy 534, the School Meals.
• Approved a resolution for the non-renewal of the teaching contract for Nicky Eiken, a 1.0 FTE probationary teacher. Principal Weidemann and Superintendent Kuphal clarified that the position itself was being eliminated, and Eiken was not terminated due to performance.
• Approved the outlay Items for the year – five fire extinguishers for $345, 12 emergency exit signs for $4,507, and roof guard railing above student services for $4,866. Fire marshal or OSHA. 
• Renewed the district’s membership in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).
• Approved the academic calendar for the 2025-26 school year. High School (7th-12th) will start on September 2, 2025, and the first day of class for elementary (PreK-6th) is September 3, 2025. The last day of school is May 29, 2026.
• Approved the hiring of Ruth Ann Sacquitne as a 0.4 FTE Literacy/Instructional Coach.
• Approved offering school age childcare two days per week during the summer.
• Approved Fiscal Year 26 Environmental, Health, and Safety Management Services with IEA.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:03 p.m.