Grand Rapids school board elects officers, approves calendar and organizational measures

The Grand Rapids Public School District board elected its officers and completed routine organizational business at its Jan. 6 organizational meeting.

Mark Schroeder was declared elected chair by acclamation after being the only nominee for the office. David Marty, who was absent with permission, was nominated and declared elected clerk by acclamation. Dave Cowan was declared elected treasurer by acclamation. Julie Rasmussen was designated deputy clerk under the direction of the board clerk.

The board approved its 2025 meeting calendar and a calendar of indicator reports; moved workshop start times for some sessions from 5:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and approved the school board payment rates (listed in board materials as $2,500 annually for attendance at 19 regular meetings). Board members also approved committee assignments, designated official financial institutions and named Carol Lundin (listed in the materials) to exercise specified chief financial officer duties for the district.

The board designated The Herald Review as the district's official newspaper after staff said statute gives priority to a paper with an office located inside the district. The board also designated Rapids Radio and KAXC as official radio stations and the bulletin board inside the ISD 318 Education Services Center as the official posting site. The board approved a slate of legal counsel and named authorized contacts as listed in the administrative report.

On routine business, the board approved two sets of Dec. 16, 2024 minutes (the comprehensive achievement/civic readiness public meeting and the regular board meeting) and adopted the consent agenda. In personnel actions, the board approved a 12-month general leave of absence for one educational support professional, Tracy McNamara; the leave preserves seniority but carries no pay or benefit obligations.

The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with AFSCME to revert certain weekend/building checks back to assigned building staff through June 2025 (a short-term trial), and adopted the federal micro-purchase threshold and related language in the district's uniform grant guidance as provided in the board packet.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda approval: motion moved by Melissa (board member), seconded by Ashley (board member); voice vote (ayes recorded). - Election: Mark Schroeder, chair; David Marty, clerk; Dave Cowan, treasurer — each declared elected by acclamation (no roll-call vote recorded). - Deputy clerk designation (Julie Rasmussen): moved by Melissa, second by Dave Cowan; approved by voice vote. - 2025 meeting calendar: moved by Ashley, second by Melissa; approved by voice vote. - Calendar of indicator reports: moved by Ashley, second by Dave Cowan; approved. - Board payment rates ($2,500/year for 19 meetings): moved by Melissa, second by Ashley; approved. - Committee assignments: moved by Dave Cowan, second by Ashley; approved. - Designated financial institutions: moved by Melissa, second by Dave Cowan; approved. - CFO designation (Carol Lundin): moved by Dave Cowan, second by Ashley; approved. - Official newspaper (The Herald Review): moved by Ashley, second by Melissa; approved. - Official radio stations (Rapids Radio, KAXC): moved by Dave Cowan, second by Melissa; approved. - Official posting site (ISD 318 Ed Services Center bulletin board): moved by Ashley, second by Dave Cowan; approved. - Legal counsel list and authorized contacts: moved by Melissa, second by Ashley; approved. - Minutes (12/16/2024 sessions) and consent agenda: motions carried by voice vote. - ESP general leave (Tracy McNamara): moved by Melissa, second by Ashley; approved. - AFSCME memorandum of understanding (building checks): moved by Ashley, second by Dave Cowan; approved. - Federal micro-purchase level and uniform guidance language: moved by Dave Cowan, second by Melissa; approved.

Context and next steps

Board members discussed community access options (off-site meetings in Bigfork, livestreaming on YouTube) and the importance of timely notice when members expect to miss meetings. Staff and board members also reviewed committee duties and openings created by an absent member; several trustees volunteered to serve as liaisons to specified committees. The board did not take public input at this meeting.

Source citations: organizational procedures, nomination statements and motions are recorded in the meeting transcript (Jan. 6, 2025 organizational session).