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Owatonna school board elects officers, names Title I contact and approves administrative designations
Summary
At its Jan. 6 organizational meeting, the Owatonna Public School District board re-elected Mark Sebring as chair, elected other officers, designated Julie Sullivan as the district Title I contact and approved routine administrative designations including legal counsel, depositories and meeting schedule.
The Owatonna Public School District board on Jan. 6 held its organizational meeting, elected board officers for 2025 and approved a set of routine administrative designations including a Title I contact, official newspaper, financial depositories and legal counsel.
The board re-confirmed Mark Sebring as chair and elected Tim Jensen as clerk and Jolene Moe as treasurer. The board also elected Lori Weisenberger as vice chair and welcomed newly elected members Andrea Van Gelder and Ron Kubicek, both of whom introduced themselves during the meeting. Chair Mark Sebring said, “It’s an honor and puts you in a position of responsibility for an equitable and quality education of every learner, every day.”
The meeting established administrative and financial procedures the district uses annually. Superintendent Mr. Elstad recommended Julie Sullivan, director of teaching and learning, be the district’s representative for Title I federal funds; Elstad described Title I as funds the district receives from the federal government and said they are governed by federal statutes and regulations. The board approved that designation and clarified the funding follows the district’s fiscal year (FY 2025 and a portion of FY 2026, as discussed at the meeting).
Other routine designations the board approved included naming the Owatonna People’s Press as the district’s official newspaper for notices and requests for bids; authorizing Bremer Bank and PMA Financial Network Inc. as depositories for payroll, student activity and general accounts; and listing Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo Investment Services Inc., PMA Financial Network Inc. and Bremer Bank as authorized institutions for district investments.
The board also approved continuing use of outside law firms for specialized counsel. Mr. Elstad said the district has used Dorsey & Whitney for referendum matters and Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney for personnel and special-education matters; the board authorized retaining those firms and other counsel as needed.
On business-office authority, the board authorized the director of finance and operations, the controller or a designee to deposit and withdraw district funds, and designated the board chair, clerk and treasurer as cosigners for the district’s check-signing machine. The superintendent was appointed deputy treasurer to provide an internal accounting check should the elected treasurer be unable to perform duties. The board approved an annual allowance of $3,850 per board member to be paid over 24 pay periods, plus an additional $600 for the chair and $450 for the vice chair; that motion passed with one member recorded as opposed.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the agenda; elected Mark Sebring chair; elected Lori Weisenberger vice chair; elected Tim Jensen clerk; elected Jolene Moe treasurer; approved board committee assignments as presented; authorized Julie Sullivan as Title I contact for the district (FY 2025 and portion of FY 2026); designated the Owatonna People’s Press as the official newspaper; approved the 2025 meeting schedule with work sessions to be held at the district office when practicable; designated Dorsey & Whitney and Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney (and other firms as needed) as legal counsel; designated Bremer Bank and PMA Financial Network Inc. as depositories; authorized Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo Investment Services Inc., PMA Financial Network Inc. and Bremer Bank for investments; authorized specified business-office officials to make transfers; designated board chair, clerk and treasurer as check cosigners; approved board allowances and stipends for chair and vice chair (one dissenting vote); appointed the superintendent as deputy treasurer; and adjourned the organizational meeting.
The meeting included brief discussion about meeting locations and notice requirements: board members agreed to hold work sessions at the district office when feasible and to post notices consistent with statutory timelines (the board referenced a 72-hour notice practice). The board adjourned the organizational meeting and moved immediately into a scheduled work session.
Details recorded in the meeting minutes are procedural and administrative; no new policies, contracts, or budget appropriations were adopted during this organizational meeting beyond the routine authorizations listed above.
