Red Lake Public School District board approves March bills, two nonrenewals; hears enrollment and graduation updates

The Red Lake Public School District board on April 22 approved the district's monthly bills and several personnel actions and heard reports on finances, enrollment and graduation planning.

The board approved the list of bills and wires for March, listed in the materials at $3,171,245.21. The motion to approve the bills passed by voice vote.

Board members also approved two contract nonrenewals for probationary teachers. The board voted to nonrenew the contract of Janita Aim (identified in the packet as a probationary teacher) after a motion recorded as made by Tom and seconded by Jack. The board voted to nonrenew the contract of Kathy Curry, also described as a probationary teacher; that motion was recorded as made by Nicole and seconded by Mike. Both nonrenewals were adopted by voice vote; the transcript records the outcome as "all those in favor say 'I.'" The transcript does not include a roll-call tally or further details of the board's deliberations on these specific personnel files.

During the agenda review the board previewed several consent items and staffing actions: a phased retirement for Philip May, two retirements and two resignations, rescinding an employment offer because the candidate accepted another position elsewhere, approval of 14 hires covering teachers, SSPs and paraprofessionals, and hiring of a secretary. The board also agreed to defer a second secretarial hire (labeled "7X" in the packet) while elementary office scheduling is reworked. The agenda materials included a request to open a 0.5 full-time-equivalent custodian position and a proposed 2026–27 capital improvements project listed in the packet at about $95,368.16.

In the reports section, presenters summarized the district's fund balances and enrollment. The discussion referenced a starting balance noted in the packet of roughly $34 million and an ending balance described in the meeting as about $32.1 million; the transcript's numeric formatting is inconsistent in places, and the precise accounting figures are shown in the board packet. Enrollment was described as more stable than in prior years: the district had regained about 10 students since last month and was, at that time, down about 28 students compared with the same period the previous year, rather than prior larger month-to-month losses of 45–61 students.

Board member Mr. Laney requested volunteers to participate in a meeting related to an employee issue; volunteers identified in the discussion included Mr. Laney and Dustin, with logistics to be coordinated by email and afternoons preferred.

Members and staff discussed preliminary graduation projections in the low 40s (an example figure mentioned was 42), which would be roughly 10 more graduates than the previous year. The board credited principals and staff for outreach and interventions to support seniors. Board members noted that the senior class had decided to limit outside speakers at commencement to the valedictorian, salutatorian and school principals; staff also described plans to showcase student musical talent and other senior recognitions during the ceremony.

The meeting included several routine logistical items (including a note on sound-system problems at events) and a short discussion naming potential alumni or community speakers; the transcript contains inconsistent spellings for one alumnus mentioned (appearing as "Kathy Aette" and later as "Kathy Annette"). The board adjourned following a motion and voice vote.

What happens next: the board approved multiple personnel and fiscal items to take effect per district procedures; logistics for the employee meeting/possible hearing will be arranged by email among board members and administrators. The board did not record detailed roll-call vote tallies in the transcript for the motions noted above.