Board approves digital trophy fundraiser, JPA for Olivia pool and adopts write-in vote resolution

The Bird Island'Olivia'Lake Lillian board approved three separate governance items on July 22: a fundraiser to underwrite scanning and a digital trophy case, a joint-powers agreement (JPA) with the City of Olivia for the swimming pool, and a resolution limiting when write-in votes must be individually tallied in school board elections.

Digital trophy case and yearbook scanning: The board approved solicitation of donations to pay for non-destructive scanning of historical yearbooks (cost estimated at $25230 per volume) and to create a digital trophy case and archive. The administration plans to provide electronic copies on the district website; physical artifacts and originals will be offered to the local historical society for curation. Estimated total project cost was discussed informally at roughly $6,0002$7,000.

Olivia pool JPA: The board considered the annual JPA for the Olivia swimming pool. A proposed amendment to strike a Section G3 eligibility clause failed on roll call; the board approved the JPA as printed. Members noted the document can be corrected in future annual versions and that the city had already signed the current document.

Write-in votes resolution: The board read and adopted a resolution (citing Minnesota Statute 204B) that individual write-in votes for a school board office will only be tallied individually if the total number of write-in votes for that office equals or exceeds the fewest number of non-write-in votes for a ballot candidate; if write-in candidates are needed to fill an open seat the board will count all write-in votes. The resolution will remain in effect until rescinded.

All three items were approved by board vote.