The Spring Grove School Board at its September 16 meeting, approved the proposed 2024 property tax levy at the maximum level around 2%, as recommended by Superintendent Rachel Udstuen. The tax is payable in 2025. According to the extended agenda, “This level allows for any changes between now and when the proposed levy is provided to the county auditor at the end of the month, and then to the state.”
Chairman Aaron Solum called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Board members present include Chairman Solum, Stephanie Jaster, Kelly Rohland, and Angie Solie. Board members not present were Rhan Flatin and Aric Elton.
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the approval of the agenda and additional agenda items, the minutes from the August 19 regular board meeting, the treasurer’s report and the payment of bills. Additionally, the board approved contracts for Kelsey Morken and Lexi Thorson as shared pep club advisors, a reduction in Kaley Crosse’s art contract from .5 to .219 FTE based on the number of classes she is teaching, Jennifer Solberg as the one-act play director and assistant director of school performances, and Ryan Lueschen (pep band).
Principal Luke Kjelland presented the student council report in the absence of Student Council President Sylas Flatin, who was attending a volleyball game. The student council expressed their gratitude to the residents of the one-way street which was closed so students could decorate floats, as well as to the Houston County Sheriff’s Department and the Spring Grove Fire Department for their assistance with traffic control during the parade.
In his report, Luke Kjelland highlighted several key points: Currently, many students have enrolled in online flex courses, and visits from colleges and post-secondary institutions visits are scheduled for this fall. These include representatives from the U.S. Army, St. Mary’s University, Winona State University, Luther College, Viterbo University, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and Western Technical College.
Assistant Superintendent Gina Morken updated the board on several key initiatives, the service learning grant and the community help desk, transformation coaching, Metier, COMPASS, Career Connected Learning, and Riverland Partnership.
Superintendent Udstuen provided an update on the Summer 2025 construction project. The timeline is as follows: bids will be solicited starting September 23, a pre-bid walkthrough scheduled for September 30. Bids will be open on October 9, and the board will review and approve them in a meeting on October 21. In addition, Udstuen shared that goals are reviews this time of year, noting that 100% of students are either career-ready or college-ready, 100% of students graduate, and 100% of students are ready for kindergarten. In regard to other projects, there is not a plan in place for the motel, and while there has been interest in working with the school on the softball field, it will not be ready for use by spring.
In other business, the board:
- Approved the commissioning services proposal from Hallberg Engineering for $67,000 ,which includes their travel. Udstuen noted that construction plans were almost done. The other two bids came in $69,600 and $79,300.
- Unanimously approved a resolution to waive 2% of the school’s basic revenue for staff development. The board was reminded that this is an annual requirement.
The school board meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
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