At the August 19 Spring Grove Public School Board meeting, the board unanimously approved a 3% annual increase for Principal Luke Kjelland’s salary over the next two years and reduced Assistant Superintendent Morken’s contract from 1.0 FTE to 0.4 FTE. Morken’s title in the spring will be Interim Superintendent. The board unanimously approved Udstuen’s contract with an increase from 0.6 FTE to 1.0 FTE, including teaching two-thirds of the time during the spring semester.
The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. Board members present included Chairman Aaron Solum, Rhan Flatin, Stephanie Jaster and Aric Elton. Kelly Rohland and Angie Solie were absent.
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the meeting agenda with one addition, the minutes from the regular July 23 board meeting, the treasurer’s report, the bills, and the contract with Weston Riley as the Washington, D.C. co-advisor. It also included the 2024-25 school calendar with late start dates, donations to the school, and the resignation of paraprofessional Erin Woods.
There were no guests wishing to address the board.
Principal Luke Kjelland introduced the new Student Council president, Sylas Flatin, who will be attending the school 2024-2025 school board meetings. Flatin announced that homecoming is scheduled for the second week of school. Superintendent Rachel Udstuen added that the school agrees with parents and students that homecoming is approaching quickly. “It is the only week that we have home games in volleyball and football and don’t have a conflict of some kind,” explained Udstuen. “We just didn’t have a lot of options.” Flatin also shared the dress-up day themes and confirmed that flag football, sponsored by the booster club, is scheduled for Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. followed by the bonfire. He mentioned that the council might also “sneak in” a volleyball tournament one day. This year, there will not be a dance due to low attendance in recent years, so the council is working on alternative ideas.
Kjelland reviewed the handbook changes, emphasizing that PK-8th grade students cannot use cell phones between 8:25 a.m. to 3:16 p.m., while grades 9-12 students can only use cell phones before school, after school, and during lunch. Parents are encouraged to call the office or email the office with messages for their students. The handbook’s appendix includes a library materials complaint form, which is now required by the state. The form is to be used by parents if they wish to request the removal of an item from the library, explained Kjelland. On page 17 of the handbook, it states, “Any junior high or high school student who has an unexcused tardy, will have to check his/her cellphone into the office or the remainder of the day.” The following was also added, “Students who are absent from school after 11:45 a.m. because of illness or who have any unexcused absence any period, shall be ineligible to participate in any after-school activity.
Assistant Superintendent Gina Morken reported that she has been working with new teachers – Ryan Lueschen (band), Jana Schroeder (JH/HS Science), Megan Buxengard (K para), Jordan Anderson (3/4), Weston Riley (JH/HS Social Studies), Katie Zenke (Speech Therapist), Vicki Nelson (part-time SpEd), and Brian Anderson (in-house substitute) – on everything from curriculum, scope and sequence, logins, and connecting with other teachers. She updated the board on several projects she has been working on this summer, including the service learning grant and the community help desk, Read Act, and Compass.
The superintendent reported on the daycare situation in Spring Grove, following the recent closing of The Little Gnome Daycare & Preschool center, stating that there is “No fast, quick solution.” She also mentions that the bids for the summer 2025 construction project are scheduled to go out in early September to get ahead of other projects, which will benefit the school. Additionally, the school is exploring potential upgrades to the softball field and noted that the school made some money from the motel garage sale.
In other business, the board:
- Designated Udstuen as the official with authority to access the MDE external user recertification system.
- Accepted the resignation of School Counselor Scott Solberg. Solberg has agreed to assist the school during the transition.
The school board meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
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