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Votes at a glance: Board accepts donations, certifies levy at maximum, rehires three staff, approves MSBA resolution
Summary
The Bemidji Public School District board unanimously accepted donations, certified the initial 2025 payable 2026 levy at the maximum allowed by state funding formulas, approved three rehires by roll call, and authorized submission of an MSBA resolution at its Sept. 15 meeting.
The Bemidji Public School District board took several formal actions at its Sept. 15 meeting. All votes recorded in the meeting were unanimous and are listed below with key details.
Donation acceptance - Motion: Accept donations presented to the board. - Details: Jack donated $2,500 toward sixth-grade football equipment. - Outcome: Approved unanimously (voice vote). No roll-call names were recorded for this vote.
Initial levy limitation certification (2025 payable 2026) - Motion: Certify the initial 2025 payable 2026 levy limitation at the maximum amount allowed under state funding formulas (allowing MDE to make later adjustments prior to final certification in December). - Presenter: Ashley Eastbridge, district finance presentation. - Rationale: Presenter explained that certifying at the maximum avoids under-levying categories tied to state aid and accommodates pending adjustments to the state-generated levy report. - Outcome: Approved unanimously (voice vote). The board recorded “Aye” and said “None opposed. That carries unanimously.”
Reemployment resolution (rehires) - Motion: Rehire the following individuals whose prior releases were effective June 5, 2025, due to subsequent vacancies and required licensure/permissions being obtained: John Kovach, Christy Winchell, and Kaye Sierbich. - Presenter: Jordan Hickman (human resources/administration). - Vote: Roll-call recorded; Frenzel — Yes; Haugen — Yes; Agus — Yes; Longboatner — Yes; Manakee — Yes; Wall — Yes. - Outcome: Approved by roll call (all recorded Yes). The board noted this is a resolution and conducted a roll-call vote.
MSBA resolution submission (requesting adequate time to implement new laws) - Motion: Authorize submission to the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) of a resolution urging the legislature and MSBA to advocate for at least one year of lead time before new laws with significant district costs take effect. - Rationale: The proposal asks MSBA to lobby for timing that allows districts to plan for legislative changes that affect budgets (examples cited included reductions in special education transportation funding and library aid in recent legislative sessions). - Outcome: Approved unanimously (voice vote). Board gave permission to submit the resolution to MSBA.
Procedural votes (agenda and consent) - The board approved the meeting agenda and accepted the consent agenda by unanimous voice vote earlier in the meeting.
Notes and next steps - For the levy certification, Ashley Eastbridge noted the MDE levy limitation certification report is subject to adjustments; certifying at maximum is intended to accommodate subsequent corrections and eliminate the need for additional board meetings before December final certification. - For the rehires, personnel documentation and licensure issues were discussed in the human-resources presentation that preceded the roll-call vote.
The board adjourned after completing these actions.
