[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6462395,"mediaKeyId","5809635-441467ec4ecbe5c388c492c2ac942989","parentId",5809635,"title","Cloquet school board certifies proposed levy, approves personnel and routine finance items","audioSeconds",323,"startMs",1989000,"endMs",2312000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809635-441467ec4ecbe5c388c492c2ac942989&start=1989&end=2312","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809635-441467ec4ecbe5c388c492c2ac942989/thumbnail_1989000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462395/Minnesota/Cloquet-school-board-certifies-proposed-levy-approves-personnel-and-routine-finance-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462395-e92255be1bb03b3f7651d0870f7ceeb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179603&Signature=gsB8Ib~5v6HV0u0wh9hEImHTglH9uc8nlLnwV-W5-i0MCPLf3Qkg3DdpskKSZNKAOQQuaxIub5WColdqt6MDuWPUJIgXs7--UrTsjPwBXK6o96goMEhnQSyNmkHajdoJz~RwFvEkt2quxJn-fJ2eKDeKVyU~e5n8NpuhBbdoVv0gqukWhx6sVHIpYXOsq4oEaQZOn-y5pP2Ams1eLZPBX1cOXPAIO0sTljZQ7WlDUcm8dYQK1~30tPmaKnwSnpNlWfAXmoFGrZYRqQ-0-ZQN~hHYcRGhR6ahK4FgGJbQ5VnRZARL7xJSDSev2YjmElnoq7CioSbziKjx9yRfnk6cQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cloquet Public Schools","date","2025-09-22T23:13:39.987Z","article","The Cloquet Public School District school board on Sept. 22 voted to certify the district’s 2025 proposed levy for taxes payable in 2026 at the maximum and approved several routine personnel and finance items, the board chair announced during a regularly scheduled meeting.

The board certified the levy at the maximum and set the district’s Truth in Taxation hearing for Dec. 8, 2025. Candice Nels, the district’s business manager, told the board the certification is a procedural step while state calculations for adjusted average daily membership and other figures continue through November and early December: \"And tonight, I'm just asking that we set it at the maximum because they have not completely run every single calculation with adjusted ADMs that we have to update for future years.\" The board voted to set the levy and hearing date by roll call.

In a single roll-call sequence the board also approved: hiring a building-and-grounds director under a 2025–2028 contract; the HealthPartners Medicare retiree group renewal for district retirees; a request to increase the U.S. Bank credit-card limit for community education; closing open enrollment for all grades for the remainder of the school year; and a resolution accepting a donation and agreement with the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District to establish a high-school pollinator garden. All items were approved by voice or roll-call votes recorded during the meeting.

Why it matters: Certifying the levy at the maximum preserves the district’s authority to set a final local levy after state calculations are complete; the Dec. 8 Truth in Taxation hearing will be the public forum where the board sets the actual levy amount for taxes payable in 2026. The other votes adopt routine operational items that affect district staffing, retiree benefits, community-education operations and a small-school improvement project.

Votes at a glance (as recorded at the meeting):
- Hire building-and-grounds director, 2025–2028 contract — motion moved by Leanne Butler; seconded by Melissa (record); outcome: approved (aye votes recorded by roll call).
- Certify 2025 proposed levy at maximum; set Truth in Taxation hearing for Dec. 8, 2025 — motion moved and seconded at the meeting; outcome: approved by roll call.
- Approve HealthPartners Medicare retiree group renewal — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by roll call.
- Increase U.S. Bank credit limit for community education — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by roll call.
- Close open enrollment for all grades (remainder of the year) — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by roll call.
- Accept donation and agreement with Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District for high-school pollinator garden — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by roll call.

Board process and next steps: Business manager Candice Nels said the district will receive final state-entered figures in late November or early December; the board will revisit levy dollar amounts at the Truth in Taxation hearing on Dec. 8 before adopting a final levy. The approved personnel and contract actions will be processed by district administration per normal hiring and contract procedures.

The board’s approvals at the Sept. 22 meeting were routine and largely uncontested. The minutes and roll-call records in the board packet show the items passed; the district will publish formal minutes and any contract documents in accordance with its records procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting - September 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Cloquet Public School District school board on Sept. 22 voted to certify the district’s 2025 proposed levy for taxes payable in 2026 at the maximum and approved several routine personnel and finance items, the board chair announced during a regularly scheduled meeting.","taxTitle","CLOQUET PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",38772,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6462385,"German exchange students visit Cloquet High School; hosts, guests praise cultural program",319,602000,921000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809635-441467ec4ecbe5c388c492c2ac942989&start=602&end=921","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809635-441467ec4ecbe5c388c492c2ac942989/thumbnail_602000.jpg","/articles/6462385/Minnesota/German-exchange-students-visit-Cloquet-High-School-hosts-guests-praise-cultural-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462385-1c922d0627fc0c39e6d41928d038afe2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179603&Signature=BXgBOwkHj4FBOeUdGVl6WtByFs29xelxv9-3kC3wpmEkHRR7NjvUi0c9HlsiCrAMGSEawWG5XTC8kyVMGzzBZCwu8w0lAxWTn9zkH3barvhlL49kir66D39B~pEX4r-TDeNq96EjRzzGVaVMRoqr9CJ05wW2XL8pVG5H9l1bOH3EKmUYS~hrCdBOi3-i5EjEaDTzKCYYYzYmKepvMMFO3a75JO~KpBfnwDq-vSwIQcGpvuOJ01rD83~UMRikGi0RE4UuyX15cmB1obhdUorl0ElFrcuFyvpc8vaTr9Iar2YJ9XS68~4oCD1aUYJAMgph73QOhOj7ki6yNriKIfT~mQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Cloquet High School German exchange program visited the school board Sept. 22 to thank trustees for supporting a long-running student exchange and to share highlights from the visit.

Cara, the exchange coordinator, told the board the German group arrived Sept. 7 and is staying with roughly 15 host families; Cara said 17 families are officially tied to the exchange because some host families will not travel in the outbound year or participate in the return trip. \"They're staying with 15 families in the district and there's actually 17 families involved,\" she said.

Guests from the partner school in Germany — who identified themselves as Yulia Gilga and Yuta Shvoda from the partner town of \"Filling in\" — addressed the board through a translator and expressed gratitude. One guest said, \"we would like to thank you, the school board for making this amazing experience, possible. ... it's more than a trip or practicing language. It's ... a once in a lifetime experience for our German students to be here for 3 weeks.\" The visitors described outings including a district \"Cloquet day,\" a trip to Duluth and a whitewater-rafting excursion.

Cara and the visitors said the program reestablished its prior two-year cycle after disruptions during the COVID pandemic: the visiting German students come in September and the district’s students travel to Germany in June. The visiting students leave in four days, and Cloquet students are scheduled to travel June 8–30 on the next outbound trip.

Why it matters: The exchange has run for roughly 30 years, the guests said, and board support enables cross-cultural experiences for students and host families. Board members praised the program and several recounted personal host-family experiences.

Next steps: The district will host the remainder of the exchange visit and prepare for the outbound travel of Cloquet students in June 2026 under the restored two-year cycle.","Fifteen German exchange students are visiting Cloquet for three weeks and are hosted by district families; guests and host coordinator thanked the board for supporting the long-running exchange program.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6462391,"Superintendent says district settled last bargaining unit, recommends rehiring former director",81,134000,215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809635-441467ec4ecbe5c388c492c2ac942989&start=134&end=215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809635-441467ec4ecbe5c388c492c2ac942989/thumbnail_134000.jpg","/articles/6462391/Minnesota/Superintendent-says-district-settled-last-bargaining-unit-recommends-rehiring-former-director","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462391-c458fb187dd3f770584975953f21de48/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179603&Signature=YO7aMKX3Fglna8H9UeSByOnrTCnPqWgZ1ZuWl1Qr9rFNovQWb7Qk4LyqMQYXmHMrkUsYvc-KUm~dxGCi~ZA~byrfi0jhQaQRrxlcV0jWXhSSy0ORscp7QThB8bnKzi80-lElrIerXKiO-IWaalVTHNsgrsDeBlmE~j-OyYoaW3enEdY24ZncBTs3ME4FBuPDWRW4dQNtcRkJtBo3zNgOYhhytM9Uvc1XqCA7gehZKNOu7mdZQ2H7M5u9MILtrd4BzHGf6wJa31XAyYxc4oSWXq9AeZkes0BphCRFQ2ji3It3u0L4-SZbNVOlv6ThJVhF2btvlYjTY8rFW4U31mcmFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Michael Carey on Sept. 22 told the Cloquet Public School District school board that the district has concluded its round of bargaining unit negotiations for the year and recommended rehiring a former director after interviews.

Carey said the district \"did, settle our non certified admin support association contract this last week,\" describing the settlement as the final outstanding negotiation launched in spring. He said the agreement was reached on the previous Friday and would next be communicated to the bargaining unit and incorporated into the district’s contract documents before appearing on a future agenda.

On staffing, Carey said the district interviewed four candidates for a director position with a seven-person committee and \"we're recommending that we rehire our former director Brock Wilton. He expressed some interest in coming back and so he ended up being the top candidate in terms of the committee's overall.\" The superintendent framed the recommendation as the committee’s top choice; the formal hire requires board action at a subsequent meeting or via the consent process when contract terms are complete.

Why it matters: The settlement concludes this year’s bargaining cycle for district employee units that launched in the spring. Rehiring a former director would restore a familiar administrator to a leadership role; Carey said the candidate expressed interest in returning and the committee ranked that candidate highest among four interviewed.

Next steps: Carey said the tentative settlement and the recommended hire require follow-up steps — communication with the bargaining unit and updating contract paperwork for final board consideration.","Superintendent Michael Carey told the Cloquet school board the district settled its non-certified admin support association contract and recommended rehiring former director Brock Wilton after committee interviews.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cloquet school board certifies proposed levy, approves personnel and routine finance items

German exchange students visit Cloquet High School; hosts, guests praise cultural program

Superintendent says district settled last bargaining unit, recommends rehiring former director