Spring Grove School District’s school board members met Monday, October 20 at Spring Grove Public Schools in the library. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. with all board members present.
The Consent Agenda received unanimous approval. Laura Moen was hired as a Special Education and Language Arts teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. Principal Matt Rosaaen added that Moen had a tier I special education license; in addition, Moen taught in China for three years. Mark Schroeder resigned from the custodian positon.
Student School Board Representative Dash Ranzenberger, shared “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” will be the fall drama with a cast of 15 students. Ranzenberger then informed that MnDOT (Minnesota Department of Transportation) will be visiting Thursday, October 23 to give their Build-a-Bridge presentation.
Principal Rosaaen explained more about the new can policy where beverages now need to have a cap to prevent spills. Students now pour their Bublr drinks into a closed bottle instead of drinking straight from the can the drink comes in. Signage was implemented.
Superintendent Gina Morken informed that the school nurse is concerned about the unhealthy drinks students consume today. The nurse will provide additional information.
The board moved on and listened to MTSS/Interventionist Chris Deck present fall Fastbridge data. Deck shared that 65% of grades K-1 met the benchmark for Early Reading. Forty-seven percent of the district’s 2nd-8th graders scored at or above for the reading fluency portion. Sixty-eight percent of the 2nd-12th graders scored at or above for the comprehension portion. Deck ended the data sharing for reading with stating this year’s QCOMP goal will focus on reading.
Deck then explained the mathematics data collected. Ninety percent of grades K-1 scored at or above grade level for Early Math. Seventy-three percent of students in 2nd-12th grade scored at or above for math on Fastbridge.
Deck explained how Fastbridge data differs from MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) scores in that Fastbridge serves to help identify students in need of academic support. Superintendent Morken added that Fastbridge is administered three times each year with Fastbridge being internal, while the MCA is external.
Once Deck finished with sharing the Fastbridge data, Principal Rosaaen compared the district’s behavioral data from the 2024-2025 school year to now. Rosaaen said at this time last year, there had been 37 problem behaviors documented whereas this year there have been only 19. Student behaviors can fall into different categories.
Rosaaen ended his report with giving a shout out to social worker Lexi Thorson for assisting with first grade, band director Ethan Papenfuss, third grade teacher Sarah Tollefsrud, second grade teacher Stacey Schultz, and art teacher Dana Langworthy.
Director of Special Projects Rachel Udstuen joined the meeting virtually to provide the board with the construction update. Udstuen informed that during the construction, there was no asphalt damage. A pipe had been put in outside of the CTE building. Signage had been implemented. A new boiler has been shipped. The flooring on the upper level of the commons area got finished. New tables came in. The school got solar installments. Udstuen praised that Kraus-Anderson Construction is on top of things.
A brief discussion took place about the softball field. Udstuen said the district will need to decide whether or not to go through Kraus-Anderson for this project. She noted that Kraus-Anderson will handle the bidding process, write contracts, in addition to handle any disputes that arise. Kraus-Anderson understands law contracts which is beneficial. The company will provide the district a quote.
Udstuen informed that school districts in Minnesota can now sell naming rights. As of now there is no school policy in regard to this. She added that some people will pay for naming rights. She ended that she will begin researching naming policies and come back with more information.
The board unanimously approved Resolution Minnesota State High School League Foundation Forms A and B for the 2025-2026 school year.
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