Merrill Area School Board approves Head Start assessments, meal-price changes, compensation updates and a $30,000 band endowment
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Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting the Merrill Area School District board approved Head Start community and self-assessments, a Head Start transportation waiver, a meal-price increase for 2026–27, updated compensation plans and accepted a $30,000 donation for the Merrill High School Band Endowment; consent agenda items including claims and a personnel appointment also passed.
The Merrill Area School District Board of Education on Wednesday approved a slate of routine motions, including Head Start assessments and a $30,000 donation to the Merrill High School Band Endowment.
The board first approved the Head Start 2025–2026 Community Assessment after a motion from Paul Prew and a second; the board then approved the 2026 MAPS Head Start Self Assessment and a Head Start Transportation Waiver for the 2026–27 school year, each on voice votes. Ryan Martinovich prepared the Head Start materials for the board.
The board voted to increase meal prices for the 2026–27 school year. John Smith moved the price change, and board members said the food-service fund has been reduced after offering free breakfast in prior years; Mark Powell said the district compared neighboring districts’ prices to guide the change.
Board members also approved updates to teacher, pupil-services and administrative compensation plans, a package presented by the Finance/Human Resources Committee and prepared by Heather Solberg and Mark Powell. Paul Prew moved the motion and Mike Hornisher seconded; board members said the plan is intended to align with consumer-price-index trends and remain competitive with neighboring districts.
Two policy items received first readings: new policy 5.135 (student identification numbers and cards) and policy 12.40 (evaluation of the district administrator). Both advanced as first readings on voice votes.
The board accepted a donation from the Fayette Sprouts Trust totaling $30,000 for the Merrill High School Band Endowment. The donation was brought forward because it exceeds the district’s $2,500 policy threshold for separate board approval; the motion passed on a voice vote.
A consent agenda motion approved a set of bylaw and policy items, February claims vouchers and receipts totaling $2,735,841.06, a corrected January claims package totaling $2,853,596.98, donations totaling $1,550, and an attached personnel report contingent on release of contracts. The personnel report includes Hazel Venel listed as the new finance director; Mark Powell will remain through Jan. 1, 2027.
All motions recorded in the meeting were carried by voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.
