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

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.