The Jordan School Board (ISD 7) voted Sept. 8 to levy to the maximum allowable amount for payable 2026 after staff presented preliminary Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) levy figures and recommended the standard practice of levying to the maximum. The board also approved its consent agenda—including personnel actions and donations—and unanimously approved two overnight athletics trips.

Finance staff member Amy Hefferman told the board that the MDE levy report released earlier that day shows tentative decreases in several levy lines for payable 2026: a roughly 0.54% decrease in the general fund levy, a roughly 7.35% decrease in the community education levy, and about a 0.2% decrease in the debt service levy, resulting in an overall decrease of approximately 0.44%. Hefferman said the numbers could change as MDE updates the report through Sept. 30 and that she would have PMA financial advisers double-check debt-service entries. Based on that information, she recommended levying to the maximum to preserve flexibility and access to state and local funding. Board member Lauren Pedersen moved the motion to levy to the maximum; Jenny Kusky seconded. The board voted in favor and the motion carried.

Earlier in the meeting the board approved the consent agenda, which included August meeting minutes, monthly finance reports and donations (examples cited during the meeting: $50 to Jordan Middle School; two $45 gifts for the JES backpack program; $25 from the Jordan senior citizens for Jordan community education and rec). The consent agenda also recorded multiple personnel items: new hires (including Megan Shaughnessy as a building administrative assistant at the high school; Ellie Ellen Brown as a paraprofessional/lunchroom supervisor at the elementary), extra-curricular hires (assistant theater director Stephen McClellan; Ellen Helgerson as an eighth-grade volleyball coach; Lucas Rosenberger as JV boys basketball coach) and resignations (including Mitchell Martin, Trevella Vaughn and Becky Christiansen). Board members approved the consent items without further discussion.

The board also approved two overnight field-trip requests from athletics staff. The softball program requested a multi-day trip over spring break to the Disney Wide World of Sports in Florida for an expected roster of 18 players and three chaperones (the varsity coaches and a volunteer assistant); presenters said prior booster fundraising (SALT sales and the softball booster account) is expected to cover participants' costs. The baseball program requested a single overnight trip to Mishicot, Wisconsin (April 3–4) for two scrimmages and local lodging; the coach and boosters plan to cover most costs with limited player expense for meals. Both trip motions were moved and seconded and passed.

No public comments were made at the meeting. The board closed its agenda items after superintendent and committee reports and adjourned.

What happens next: Levy figures may be updated by MDE through Sept. 30 before final auditor submission; staff said they will confirm debt-service entries with PMA financial advisers. The overnight trips will proceed under the conditions outlined by athletics staff and booster funding.