Spring Grove School Board Discusses PSEO Attendance, Softball Field Updates

Spring Grove High School Principal Matt Rosaaen updated the school board on the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) proposed attendance guidelines during the July 20 board meeting.

Rosaaen said he will be sending information to parents of students in grades 10, 11 and 12 explaining the guidelines, PSEO students will be required to attend school in person instead of flexing out during that time.

Rosaaen cited student safety as a major concern.

“My biggest fear as a principal is getting a call that a kid was in a car accident, and I don’t know where they are,” he said.

The regular meeting of the Spring Grove school board was called to order at 7 p.m. by Chairperson Stephanie Jaster. Board members in attendance included Ashley Olson, Myriah Klug, Kelly Rohland, Lisa Myhre, Rhan Flatin, and Stephanie Jaster.

The board unanimously approved the consent agenda in one unanimous motion, which included:

•Approval of the agenda.

•Approval of the June 16 meeting minutes.

•Approval of the treasurer’s report and payment of the bills totaling $70,414.19 for July operating expenses and $421,850.29 in construction expenses.

•Establishing bonding for 2026-27. It was noted that there are no changes from last year (Clerk/Treasurer – $50,000; Financial Secretary – $50,000; and individual staff – $12,500)

•Establishing out-of-state tuition rates for 2026-27; grades K-12 – $6,000 and travel to be negotiated which is the same as last year.

•Establish 2026-27 athletic admission prices for home junior varsity/varsity games: volleyball, football, girls and boys basketball. There are no changes.

•Designated Merchants Bank of Spring Grove as the school’s bank depository for 2026-27.

•Designated Spring Grove Merchants Bank, Eitzen State Bank, Mabel and Caledonia BMO, New Albin State Bank and MSBA liquid Asset Fund as the school’s investments official depositories for 2026-27.

•Renewing 2026-27 membership contracts with the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA), Southeast Service Cooperative (SSC), Hiawatha Valley Education District (HVED), Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA), and Region V Finance.

•Reviewing the ongoing athletic cooperative agreement with Caledonia Area Schools.

•Accepting the resignations of vocal music teacher Rachel Storlie and part-time science teacher Jana Schroeder.

•Hiring Rachel Udstuen as an instructional coach.

“It’s a position that works mostly with either new teachers or certain people in the building,” said Superintendent Gina Morken when asked about the instructional coach position. “It’s paid for completely from federal funding, so we write it into our Title grant. The amount of hours (125 hours) we approve is directly related to what the Title grant program provides.”

Morken also reported that work has begun on the softball field. “We’re just continuing to recommend no add-ons to the softball contract.” Morken noted that they will be having conversations about the top soil because they do not know why that was an add-on. So we’re gonna dig into that a little bit more and we would bring that back to all of you if we think that the topsoil is something necessary for the field.”

Morken informed the board that a proposed state education trust fund amendment will appear on the November statewide ballot. The proposal would create a $2.3 billion education trust fund for Minnesota schools.

She emphasized that if the ballot question is left blank, it is counted as “no” votes. Currently, Spring Grove Public Schools receives approximately $30,000 through the existing funding. If passed, Spring Grove schools would get an additional $35,000.

The board unanimously voted to keep school board salaries unchanged for the 2026-27 school year.

In other business, the board:

•Designated the Fillmore County Journal as the school’s official newspaper for 2026-27.

•Accepted the bid from Pan-O-Gold Baking Company for bread and bread products and for Prairie Farms for the school’s milk and milk products for 2026-27.

•Approved a $5 increase for athletic and activities fees for 2026-27.

•Establish 2026-27 preschool fees ($210 for four days and $105 for two days).

•Approved four fundraising requests from the music department: bar bingo, a 50/50 raffle, raffle for prizes and sponsorship nights.

•Approved, by roll call, a resolution calling for the general election for school board members. Three board seats will be on the ballot.

•Tabled policy 410, Family and Medical Leave, and unanimously approved policy 214, Out-of-State Travel by Board Members and Policy 524, Internet Acceptable Use and Safety.

The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.