001January 5th, 2026. Um, I would like to call to order the reorganization and business meeting of the Little Falls School District 482. Have everybody join me for the pledge of allegiance. [clears throat] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. The school district's mission is that Little Falls Community Schools promotes personal and academic excellence in a collaborative, safe, and engaging environment. Um, in your packets, we have an approval of the agenda. Um, that is [snorts] an action item. So, I'd be looking for a motion. So, I >> have a motion by Dan. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> A second by Mark. Any further discussion hearing? None.
002All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. All right. Motion carries. All right. Being that it is the first meeting of the year, um this is our reorganization to elect officers. Um so we have three positions. The chairperson, the clerk, and the treasurer. So that being said, I would look for nominations for a chairperson. >> I'll nominate none. [clears throat] Okay. Have a nomination for myself. Any other nominations? Any other nominations? Hearing none. Nominations for chairperson are closed. Um, do I do individually or Okay. All right. So, >> um, hearing that, there's a nomination for the chairperson. I need a motion to approve. >> So motion by Dan. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Kelsey. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by
003saying I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> All right. Motion carries. Next we have the clerk position. Um I would nominate Kelsey. Any other nominations? Hearing none. Nominations are closed. I'm looking for a motion to approve Kelsey as the clerk. >> So moved. >> I have a motion by Mark. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> A second by Dan. Yeah. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> All right. Motion carries. Congratulations, guys. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> All right. Next, um we have the treasure treasurer's position. Um do we have nominations? >> I will nominate Mark. >> Okay. Any other nominations? Any other nominations? Hearing none. Nominations are closed. for treasurer. Uh, we have Mark as the treasurer. Do I have a
004motion? >> I have a motion by Dan and a second by Kelsey. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. All right. Motion carries. Thank you everyone. All right. And now that we have that out of the way, we can proceed here with a whole bunch of administrative actions here. So, um, first one here is the establishment of board uh, member renumeration. Remuneration. >> There you go. >> All right. Okay. So, um, that is an action item. It is in your packet. Um, basically it is setting compensation to be to pay board members. Um, looks like nothing has really changed from the previous years. So, um, I would look for a motion to approve >> this action. A motion by Kelsey. Do I have
005a second? >> Second by Mark. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Oppose. Same sign. >> Motion carries. Next. authorizing official signatures for um school board business, school district business, I guess. So, I will make the motion that we move that the board of education authorize the official signatures of chairperson, clerk, treasurer, superintendent, and the business office manager for the 2026 calendar year. I have a I have a second by Dan. Any further discussion? [clears throat] Oh, hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> Oppos. Same sign. I motion carries. Next. Um the authorization for use of board chair, clerk, treasure, business office manager and superintendent faximile signature is necessary to transact district business. So I would look a mot look for a motion for that.
006>> I'll move that motion. >> All right. I have a motion by Mark. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> And a second by Kelsey. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> Motion carries. Next we have the designation of the official newspaper. What good timing. Mr. Hag walked in. >> All right. >> Yeah, we got a lot of questions. [laughter] I agree, too. >> All right. Um, looking for a motion to approve the Morrison County Record as the district's official newspaper during the calendar year 2026. >> So moved. >> I have a motion by Mark. Do I have a second? I'll second. >> A second by Dan. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
007>> Oppos. Same sign. Motion carries. Next is the designation of legal counsel. So, um the motion is that the board of education authorize the superintendent and the board chair to contact local attorneys or any other attorney licensed in Minnesota um from time to time to be deemed appropriate for legal district legal services on an as needed basis during the calendar year 2026. And just an item of note that um we may we typically use Peton >> Peton Law Firm. So um that's who we would use. So, I will make that motion, not make somebody reread it. >> I'll second it. >> And I have a second by Kelsey. Any further discussion? Okay. Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> Oppos. Same sign. >> Motion carries. Next, a motion to authorize um to
008invest excess district funds. Where would those be? [laughter] So, um, that's what I'm looking for. A motion for that. >> So, >> I have a motion by Dan. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. So, we have a motion and a second to authorize the district to invest excess funds. Um, any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> All right. Motion carries. Next, we have the authorization of the payment of district obligations in advance of board approval. So, this would be for like bills and other stuff that we have to pay before we actually meet. So, you know what? I will make that motion. >> Second. I have a second by Kelsey. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify
009by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Next, we have the designation of depositories. Um, the Minnesota statute requires that the board of education annually designate one or more financial institutions as depositories of district funds. Um, so in this motion, um, the board of education designates the following institutions as official depositories for the district. Little Falls Pine Country Bank. Um, and I am going to I'm looking for a motion, but I just want to make it clear that I will abstain from this one since I'm an employee of Pine Country Bank. So, >> so I have a motion by Dan. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> And a second by Mark. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. >> Motion
010carries. Next, we have the authorization for the district to make electronic funds transfer payments. Um, I have a motion by Dan. I have a second. >> I'll second. >> Second by Kelsey. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Next, we have authorization. Authorize the superintendent to expend funds in the budget guidelines. So within the budget guidelines, excuse me. Uh I will make that motion. I have a second. >> Second. [snorts] >> Okay. Second by Mike. I thought you were second. >> Yeah. Holy [laughter] cow. That was a hard one. >> All right. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. All right. Motion carries. Next. [sighs] motion to for authorization for the administration to execute
011certain documents on the district's behalf. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make that motion. >> Have a motion by Mark. Do I have a second? >> Okay. Have a second by Dan. Any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. >> Motion carries. Okay, we're getting close. >> All right. Next, um, we have a I guess 2026 committee assignments attached. Um, I know we we're all on committees in 2025. Any anybody want to change or everybody good with what they're >> where they're at. Okay. So, I would make a motion that we approve the board member committees and other assignments for 2026. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Second. Any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor signify by saying
012I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. All right. I think this is the second to the last one. Authorization for use of board chair, clerk, treasurer, business office manager, and superintendent faximile signatures necessary to transact district business. This sounds eerily similar familiar to one we already did, but um it may be slightly different. So I will make a motion to approve it. We have a second. >> Second. >> All right. And I have a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Motion carries. Then a resolution authorizing the superintendent to identify and recommend the elimination or reduction of andor modification to district services, staff positions, programs, offerings, and other areas for the 2026 2027 school year as needed. Um, again, something that
013we do every year. So, um, I would make a motion for that resolution. >> Oh, wait. It's a resolution. You have to read it, don't you? >> Yep. >> Okay. I just got carried away. Take it away, Elsie. >> Whereas the financial condition of the independent school district 482 for the 202627 school year dictates that the board of education may need to reduce expenditures from the 202526 level. And whereas any reduction in expenditures may include the discontinuence of positions as well as discontinuence, elimination or modification of programs, staff, services, offerings and other areas. And whereas a determination would have to be made as to which employee contracts may be terminated and not renewed and which employees may be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits to affect the discontinuence of positions.
014Be it therefore resolved by the school board of education of independent school district 482 as follows. The board of education hereby directs the superintendent to make recommendations to the board of education for the 2026-27 school year for the discontinuence, elimination, modification, and/or reorganization of programs, staff, physicians, services, offerings, employee contracts, and other areas in Independent School District 482 as a superintendent deems appropriate for purposes of adopting the 2627 budget. Roll call vote. Dan, >> yes. Doug, >> yes. >> Julie, >> I think I'll second it first and then yes. >> Okay, thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Yes. >> And Mark, yes. And myself, yes. >> Motion carries. >> Good job, Julie. Good catch. >> Okay, that um kind of takes care of all of our kind of boilerplate things for our reorganization meeting and
015stuff. So now we'll um get to the I guess the normal business business meeting so to speak. So that we are normally accustomed to. So um next item is the approval of the consent agenda which consists of the um personnel which is the seniority list. I think everybody got the approval of prior meeting minutes and the approval of financial um transactions and also approval of separation agreement and release of claims. So, um, anybody need anything to be pulled out of there? Otherwise, I'd be looking for a motion to approve. >> I think the the seniority list is a standalone. >> Is it okay? >> Agenda item. >> Okay. I think >> personnel approval of prior meeting minutes and >> approval. Yep. Okay. >> Good. >> So, those two items. So, we would remove the >>
016personel. >> Sorry. Sorry. You're right. We remove the personnel or the seniority one. So, >> okay. >> So, looking for a motion. We got that. >> I'll make it. I'll make a motion to approve. >> Okay. So, we'll make a motion to approve the approval of prior meeting minutes, the approval of financial transactions, and the approval of separation agreement and release of claims. Okay. So, we have that motion from Mark. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> A second by Dan. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign. All right. Motion carries. And then personnel then we will do as a standalone. So everybody's had a chance. Don't see any issues with it. Um I would make a motion to approve the um personnel
017list as presented. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. A motion by myself, second by Kelsey. Any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. All right. Motion carries. Next, our resolution of gifts. Kelsey. >> Whereas the following have generously offered to donate to Little Falls Community Schools. Therefore, be it resolved by the Little Falls Community Schools Board of Education to gratefully accept the gifts. Anonymous donation of $290 to the Little Falls Community Schools Lincoln Elementary. Paul Silverneck donation of $500 to the Little Falls Community Schools baseball program. Morrison County Food Shelf, donation of $750 to the Little Falls Community Schools Flyer Pride Backpack Program. and Jill Sakala >> donation of $200 to the Little Falls Community Schools sponsoring Bentleyville bus trip on December 22nd, 2025. >>
018All seconded. >> Okay, roll call. Dan, >> yes. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Julie, >> yes. >> Mark, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. >> Okay, thank you. Next on the agenda is flyer pride cards. And I think because of the break, we do not have any. So, we will move on from that. Um, also next we have our student representative updates. Um, and looks like we don't have any student representatives here tonight. So, um, I guess we will move on then to the superintendent report. >> Yes, board members, next week is the schoolboard association leadership conference and again this will be the uh third time that we present our transportation academy at a conference. So Mark Mark Deal has done a wonderful job of quarterbacking that and it's a really interesting presentation because he
019zooms back into [snorts] Little Falls into our academy where our simulators are and both teachers Eric Lebla and Peter Master John are there and they talk about the program. They demonstrate the simulators. Sometimes they'll have students there or other staff participate. So, it's I think it's very engaging and so far has been wellreceived. And part of that is you have to have a school board member a part of your presentation. So, Doug will be there to represent the school board. January 16th is an early out professional development day and we're scheduling an all staff meeting from 12:45 to 1:45 for some brief district updates and then primarily providing updates to the staff about the referendum and building project coming forward January 19th if you're interested. And a part of our referendum work is we are
020heading down to Lassour Henderson School District. I think I've talked about this before. Lassour Henderson has a three gym station that they've added on to their school district, their brand new elementary school. And it is a fabric tension building similar to the one that we've talked about. And I think we're tenatively looking at about 40 people who will hop into a charter bus that is paid for by FAB >> and tour that facility. So if you're interested, >> what time is that in again? >> Lassour. >> What time are you? >> We're leaving at 8:30 in the morning. >> 8 o'clock in the morning. On the way back, we hope to do a quick drop in visit to Rogers. Rogers um school district and community. The community built a fabric tension tennis center. And then
021they also then the school district put together and built a fabric tension building, 80,000 square feet turf indoor turf facility. So again, just to be able for folks to see what these buildings look like, what they feel like. And when we go down to Lassour, the president of Legacy Building Solutions will actually be there to present to the folks that are there. And I think already Dan, Doug, and Sharon had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by Legacy a month or so ago. Moving ahead with our referendum, our we we certainly have been sharing information, but our true kickoff week with our community and stakeholders is the week of January 26th. And we have a number of things scheduled to happen that week to push out information to people to really get things out
022there. And uh I think one of the larger ones is getting our website referendum website open and available for folks to be able to obtain and and see additional information. The theme is elevating education, charting the course for success. Really that in charting the course, looking ahead to the future in creating an efficient, [snorts] safe, and sustainable plan moving forward for our district students and residents. [clears throat] The next school district newsletter we have goes out the first week of February and has quite a bit of referendum information in it. Please remember January 26th is a work session that same week. And one of the agenda items I know is along with the referendum will be taking a look at calendar drafts for next school year 2627 which we've talked about already with looking at
023the possibility of starting school before Labor Day which is a legislative option this coming school year. You thinking like a week before or >> how much before Labor Day? >> It would just be a week. >> Yeah. >> Start on that Monday and then they'd have Friday, Saturday, Sunday. >> Correct. >> Or whatever works out to Friday. >> Saturday, Sunday, Monday. >> That Monday, I think, is August 31st, which would be the first day with students, which then pushes it. Staff >> the students won't see a change at all. Not really other than their first day being in August, which is unique. >> What's interesting with that, I know that there's I think one of the biggest hurdles we want to make sure that we address is the state fair. And we do have students
024in our FFA programs that do participate in the state fair. And any students participating in that activity will not be hindered at all if they miss school that week. We'll make sure to accommodate that. And then I have Sharon's not here tonight, but I do have her board [clears throat] report which includes an update about icefest which is coming up February 21st and 22nd. And then we coming up in the meeting, the policy committee met right before the holiday break, Christmas break, and we have several policies to bring forward for the board to look at. And then I'll be sending out sometime before the next meeting two policies for the board to consider. One is related to flags in schools and the other is related to how we allow and how we handle homeschool students
025when they participate in activities that are typically they're school related but not necessarily related to academic or athletics participation. That's all I have. Okay. Thank you. Uh, next item is the approval of the 2026 school board meeting schedule. So, if everybody had a chance to look at that, >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay, I have a motion by Kelsey. Do I have a second? >> Second by Mark. Any further discussion? >> Conflicts that you can see at least at this time. All right. Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos? Same sign. All right. Motion carries. All right. Next is where I screwed up on the consent agenda, huh? The approval of the EMLF seniority list. So, um, the original one that we approved on was just the personnel
026moves. Um, so my apologies for mixing those up. So, >> and Mr. Chair, this went out to staff in November. So, they've had a chance to look at it. >> Okay. They're good with it. So, okay. So I would look for a motion for an approval of the EMLF [snorts] seniority list. >> So move. >> Have a motion by Dan. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> A second by Mark. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> Motion carries. All right. And then um next item is the approval of the EMLF early retirement incentive agreement. And I think we did that again last year as well too. Um, so this basically gives a early retirement incentive to to educators who might want
027to retire early and they ultimately take a leave of absence from the district and then we pay their TRA into the state for anywhere from 3 to 5 years or until they retire. >> Okay. But basically the same as it's been. >> Correct. No change. >> Correct. Yep. >> I make a motion to approve. >> Okay. Motion by Mark. I will second it. Um any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Post. Same sign. All right. Motion carries. Next we have the first read of looks like there's four policies there. um accounting practices, extracurricular transportation, uniform grant policy regarding Federal Reserve resources and chemical use and abuse. So again, this isn't an action item, but um if you haven't read through them, just take a look and if
028you have questions, I get those to Mr. Johnson or the policy committee. >> There really wasn't much change that I could see. mostly just uh the reference to the legal. >> Yeah. And some of them are are mandated or you know doesn't really change. >> Mhm. >> So, >> okay. Um any old or unfinished business to come before the board that we're aware of? No. Reports from board members. You want to start with Sharon? Sharon. >> Okay. >> Um Icefest is February 21st and 22nd. Um, Icefest has been a strong supporter for district 482 since 2018. In the eight years, the Zilling family has given $168,000, which is amazing, to fund the district's backpack program and care closet. Both are school programs that are assisting students who have issues with basic needs, mainly food and
029clothing. There are a number of ways board members, staff members, organizations, or team members can support this event. You can donate time to sell raffle tickets. Buy one yourself. 100% of the raffle tickets sales come back to the school district or pitch in at the actual event to help. Volunteers are appreciated. Uh even giving one hour for distribution of flyers, donating donating items to be used as games or prizes, picking up prizes and dropping them off at collection points on Little Falls or Randall, working a game booth selling raffle tickets the week the weekend of IceFest. This event is a free attendance family weekend event that's located on Green Prairie Fish Lake, opening at 10:00 each morning. One request this year is a donation of artificial trees. I'm also asking if you consider any holiday
030gifts that you have that are not a fit for yourself but could be donated for one of the games. They can be dropped off at Thrive with Vision during their office hours in Little Falls. Check out the Sunny's Willie Memorial Icefest page to stay updated and offer ideas or you can volunteer. That's it. Okay. Thank you. Dan, >> nothing to report. >> Kelsey, >> nothing to report. >> Mark, >> nothing for me. >> And nothing for me. It's pretty quiet over the holidays and stuff. So, >> sweep. [snorts] >> All right. So, next um at this time, I'll entertain a motion to close the meeting to discuss labor negotiation strategy as permitted under Minnesota statute section 13D.03. I have a motion by Dan. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> I have a
031second by Kelsey. Any further discussion? Okay. Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Oppose. Same sign. >> All right. Motion carried. This meeting is being closed to discuss labor negotiation strategy. No final action will be taken during the closed session. Any decisions or actions resulting from this discussion will occur in open session. Okay, we'll head across. Okay, sounds good. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. N. [music] Heat. Heat. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey. Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. Heat.
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035on the agenda if we have no other items to come before the board is adjournment. I have a motion to adjurnn. >> So, move. >> Motion by Dan. Second. >> Second by Mark. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> All right. Meeting is adjourned. Thank you everyone.