Public Meeting Agenda: August 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Regular School Board Meeting

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ROLL CALL

2.a. Jennifer Westlund __________ Tom Omerza _________
Hollee Coombe __________ Rochelle Sjoberg _________
Tony Colarich __________ Erin Moravitz _________

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

4.a. Moved by ______________, seconded by ____________, to approve the agenda as presented/amended. Motion carried/failed.

5. OPEN FORUM

6. CORRESPONDENCE/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

7. CONSENT AGENDA

7.a. Program

7.a.1. Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 13, 2026.

7.a.2. Approve the minutes of the study session of July 27, 2026.

7.a.3. Approve July 2026 receipts in the amount of $707,321.84 and disbursements in the amount of $1,082,145.83.

7.a.4. Approve July 2026 Financial Report.

7.a.5. Approve purchase of a new bus from United Bus Sales in the amount of $110,508.25 using funds from the Capital Project Levy.

7.a.6. Approve purchase of a new van from Kolar in the amount of $57,482.22 using funds from the Capital Project Levy.

7.a.7. Approve the revised Employee Handbook.

7.a.8. Approve revised 2026-2027 Student and Family Handbook.

7.b. Personnel

7.b.1. Accept the retirement of Troy Chittum from his paraprofessional position effective September 19, 2026.

7.b.2. Accept the resignation of Jeff MacKenzie from his head softball coach position effective August 3, 2026.

7.b.3. Accept the resignation of Emmett Penke from his extra-curricular assignment as the gamers guild advisor effective immediately.

7.b.4. Renew the following head coaches for the 2026-2027 school year as recommended by Tom Coombe, Athletic Director, per the current master agreement between ISD No. 696 and the Ely Education Association and school board policy: Louie Gerzin, head football coach; Megan Bialik, head volleyball coach; Jayne Dusich, head boys and girls cross country coach; Ben Johnson, head hockey coach; Tom McDonald, head boys basketball coach; Tomi Cole, head girls basketball coach; Todd Hohenstein, head boys and girls Nordic skiing coach.

7.b.5. Approve the following fall assistant coaches for the 2026-202 school year as recommended by Tom Coombe, Athletic Director, per the current master agreement between ISD No. 696 and the Ely Education Association and school board policy: Jim Wittrup, assistant football coach; Randi Walker, assistant volleyball coach; Sarah Spate, assistant cross country coach; Ryan Bush, Steve Holthaus, junior high football coaches (stipend paid by Ely TD Club); Maggie Jones, junior high volleyball coach (stipend paid by Ely Net Club); Troy Oelke, Lou Wiggen, volunteer assistant football coaches; Diana Kallberg, volunteer assistant volleyball coach; Clara Roy, Nicole Selmer, Toni Dauwalter, Carl Skustad, volunteer assistant cross country coaches.

7.c. Policy

7.c.1. Third reading and adoption of revised MSBA Policy 401 Equal Employment Opportunity.

7.c.2. Third reading and adoption of revised MSBA Policy 406 Public and Private Personnel Data.

7.c.3. Third reading and adoption of revised MSBA Policy 417 Chemical Use and Abuse.

7.c.4. Third reading and adoption of revised MSBA Policy 418 Drug Free Workplace/Drug-Free School.

7.c.5. Third reading and adoption of revised MSBA Policy 514 Bullying Prohibition.

8. OLD BUSINESS

8.a. Athletic Facility Project update.

9. NEW BUSINESS

9.a. Moved by ______________, seconded by ____________, to adopt Resolution Relating to the Election of School Board Members and Calling the School District General Election. Motion carried/failed.

9.b. Moved by ______________, seconded by ______________, to adopt Resolution Relating to Revoking the Existing Referendum Revenue Authorization of the School District, Approving a New Authorization, and Calling a Special Election Thereon. ROLL CALL: Westlund____, Omerza____, Coombe____, Sjoberg____, Colarich____, Moravitz____ Motion carried/failed.

9.c. Moved by ____________, seconded by ______________, to adopt the Resolution Authorizing Independent School District No. 696 to Make Application to and Accept Grant Funds from the IRRR School Account Disbursement in the amount of $92,679.00. Motion carried/failed.

9.d. Moved by _____________________, seconded by __________________, to approve the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Contract with Minnesota North College. Motion carried/failed.

9.e. Moved by ______________, seconded by ____________, to approve the Joint Powers Agreement Establishing a Distance Learning Program with Infinity. Motion carried/failed.

9.f. Moved by _____________________, seconded by __________________, to approve the MSHSL Cooperative Activity Agreement MOU between Vermilion Country School and ISD #696. Motion carried/failed.

9.g. Moved by _____________________, seconded by __________________, to approve price increase of adult breakfast from $2.25 to $3.00 and adult lunch from $5.00 to $5.50 effective the 2026-2027 school year. Motion carried/failed.

9.h. Moved by _____________________, seconded by __________________, to approve price increase of "doubles" from $2.00 to $2.50 effective the 2026-2027 school year. Motion carried/failed.

9.i. Moved by _____________________, seconded by __________________, to approve Resolution Accepting Donations. Motion carried/failed.

August 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Regular School Board Meeting

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