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Bemidji board approves contracts, membership and several policy changes; milk contract awarded to incumbent vendor
Summary
At its May 19 meeting, the board accepted donations, awarded a sealed milk contract to Performance Food Service after reference checks, approved continued membership in the Minnesota State High School League by roll call, revised the 2025–26 calendar, updated the code of conduct and activity fee policy, and rescinded several obsolete policies.
The Bemidji Area Schools board on May 19 handled multiple action items, approving donations, a food-service contract, a league membership resolution and several policy changes.
Donations: The board accepted an anonymous $1,000 gift to the VHS debate team and $806 from Compass Rose LLC to the Bemidji Middle School choir after staff presented the gifts and a motion was approved.
Milk contract: After a sealed-bid process (bids opened April 30), the district received two bids: Performance Food Service (current vendor) at approximately $343,000 and 10 Fins Creamery at approximately $277,000 based on bid quantities. Staff reported reference checks for 10 Fins showed recurring problems at other districts — leaking or mislabeled cartons, unclean packaging, inconsistent delivery schedules and reduced student participation because the product was non‑homogenized. Because milk is a required offering for reimbursable meals and the district relies on consistent participation, staff recommended awarding the contract to Performance Food Service despite the higher price. The board moved and the award carried by voice vote.
Minnesota State High School League membership: Superintendent Olsen presented a resolution to remain a member of the Minnesota State High School League to ensure student participation in activities. One trustee reiterated personal concerns about league stances on gender participation in sports but said they would not vote against membership so students would not be punished. The board held a roll-call vote; trustees Long Weltner, Haugen, Manneke, Frenzel, Akas and Walt all voted yes.
Calendar and policies: The board approved revisions to the 2025–26 school calendar (moving an early-out from April 2 to April 15 and changing the end of term from April 2 to March 27) and accepted a first reading of revisions to the code of conduct that add language on recording and taking photos without consent. The board also approved changes to activity fee policy (example increases: $20 for high school tier 1 and tier 2 activity fees; middle school activity fees up $15; free-and-reduced activity fee to remain $30; household fee maximum increased to $800) with staff estimating roughly $27,000 in additional revenue. Trustees discussed fee waivers and fundraising options and noted the district policy allows fee waivers for families who cannot pay.
Policy rescissions: The board unanimously rescinded several policies deemed duplicative or obsolete, including an older equal-access policy (490-1), an older parent involvement policy (490-6), an enrollment policy for a non-existent Life Virtual School (490-9), and a homeschool-credit policy (490-8) that no longer aligns with state statute.
Votes at a glance: donations (unanimous voice vote); milk contract award to Performance Food Service (unanimous voice vote); Minnesota State High School League membership (roll-call: all named trustees Yes); calendar revisions (unanimous voice vote); code-of-conduct revisions (unanimous voice vote); activity fee changes (unanimous voice vote); policy rescissions (unanimous voice vote).
The board discussed but did not alter the district’s process for calendar development, fees waiver mechanisms or capital project priorities during the same meeting.
