The Spring Grove School Board unanimously approved the 2026-2027 Spring Grove Student Handbook during its August 17 meeting.
Principal Matt Rosaaen said the handbook was updated to reflect new dates and staff changes. He also noted that the Table of Contents and Appendix, which had been removed the previous year, were added back based on feedback from parents.
Rosaaen said the handbook is about 80 pages long and will be posted on the school website.
Spring Grove School Board Chairperson Stephanie Jaster called the regular meeting to order at 7:14 p.m. Board members present were Ashley Olson, Myriah Klug, Rhan Flatin, and Jaster. Lisa Myhre and Kelly Rohland were absent.
The consent agenda was unanimously approved. It included approval of the agenda and minutes from the July 20 regular board meeting, the treasurer’s report and bills, a contract with Ian Zahren as half-time vocal music teacher, a service agreement with Caledonia School for Spanish, and a service agreement with Houston School for Hospitality and Foods.
Reports
Rosaaen reported that sixth, seventh, and ninth grade student orientation is on Tuesday, August 25.
The new teacher orientation is on Monday, August 24. All staff training is on Tuesday, August 25 and teachers will meet on August 26 and August 27.
Fall sports and activities started on August 17. Rosaaen said there is quite a good number of students going out for sports.
Superintendent Gina Morken thanked Principal Rosaaen for his work on the handbooks, saying he does a strong job preparing them and following through on related communications.
Director of Special Projects Rachel Udsteun said the construction project is in good shape. She told the board the inspector had been in earlier that day and that teachers should be able to access their classrooms at 8 a.m. Thursday. Udsteun also reported that the fire alarm and suppression work had passed inspection. She said she had hoped the girls would be practicing in an air-conditioned gym today, but it appeared that wouldn’t happen until the following day.
Udsteun thanked Brent Messner and his crew for their outstanding work for cleaning and moving furniture back into the classrooms.
She also praised Kraus-Anderson for managing the project well, adding that although the district is paying a significant amount for the company’s services, the work has been worth the cost.
“We can’t wait for families to come in and see these new classrooms,” Udsteun said, noting the impact of the windows, lighting and improved sound. She added that the district is still determining whether privacy film will be needed on any of the windows facing Main Street.
The windows facing the recess area are made out of a different kind of material to prevent them from breaking.
Students will not be able to use the softball field this fall while the grass becomes established. They will have access to the playground and blacktop, and teachers will use other green spaces in Spring Grove, including the Fest Building playground and Trollskogen Park.
Superintendent Gina Morken and Athletic Director Shelly Anderson attended an athletic boosters meeting, where boosters asked questions about the budget. They asked Morken and Anderson to bring a list of items the school expects to request throughout the year, rather than making requests as needs arise. The list included Hudl costs, water for the sprinkler system, electricity for the football field concession stand, printing costs and a specific amount for the softball field.
Business Shorts
A motion by Klug, seconded by Olson, to increase adult meal prices from $5.25 to $5.50 was approved.
A motion by Flatin, seconded by Klug, to increase adult breakfast prices from $2.50 to $2.75 was approved.
A motion by Olson, seconded by Klug, to increase the substitute teacher rate from $140 to $150 per day was approved. It was noted that Caledonia and Houston also pay $150 per day for their substitute teachers.
Two quotes were received for the construction of a dumpster enclosure. The board accepted the quote from Four Seasons at a cost of $46,077 which will come out of building project funds.
The board held the first reading of Policy 410, Family and Medical Leave; Policy 208, Development, Adoption and Implementation of Policy; and Policy 402, Disability Nondiscrimination.
The board unanimously adopted Policy 214, Out-of-State Travel by Board Members, and Policy 524, Internet Acceptable Use and Safety, following their second reading.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
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