Pipestone Area School Board approves 2025–26 MS/HS handbook, transportation contract and crisis plan

The Pipestone Area School Board (Independent School District No. 2689) approved several routine and policy items at its regular meeting Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in Conference Room 1148 at the district middle/high school. Chairman Brad Carson presided; the board voted unanimously on the 2025–26 MS/HS handbook, a transportation contract and the district’s Crisis Management Plan.

The actions give the district formal guidance for the coming school year and secure contracts and funding for student activities. Superintendent Dr. Klint Willert reported the district’s enrollment at about 1,100 students and summarized projects including completion of phase I of a roof replacement and the Portrait of a Graduate initiative.

Financial reports and bill approvals were presented and approved as part of the meeting. The board heard that year-to-date expenditures as of Aug. 21, 2025 totaled $17,119,028.04 (reported as 99% of the budget year-to-date), the district cash balance for the month ended July 31, 2025 was $8,683,159.37, and the MN Trust 2023A Bonds treasurer’s report showed a cash balance of $1,179,054.00. Regular bills paid through Aug. 15, 2025 totaled $1,467,257.90; high school activity bills paid through that date totaled $5,594.53. Motions to accept the treasurer’s reports and to approve payments carried unanimously.

On unfinished business the board approved the 2025–26 middle/high school handbook (motion by Board member Katie Wiese, seconded by Board member Mark Hiniker) and completed second readings of policies 414 and 524 (motion by Board member Tyler Fruechte, seconded by Board member Tami Taubert). Both motions carried unanimously.

The board approved an overnight trip for FFA students to attend the national convention and agreed that the district would assist with substitute teacher coverage and transportation costs for the competing team, authorizing $1,800 for transportation (motion by Board member Katie Wiese, seconded by Board member Tyler Fruechte).

A formal resolution accepted monetary donations to high school activities, including a $300 donation from Gwen Biever in memory of Gary for baseball and $4,000 from the Ag Committee to support FFA Nationals. The resolution was adopted 6–0; those voting in favor were Brad Carson, Katie Wiese, Tami Taubert, Tyler Fruechte, Christina DeBates and Mark Hiniker.

Other approvals included declaring surplus the rock from the recent roof project (motion by Tami Taubert, seconded by Tyler Fruechte), and approving the 2025–26 transportation contract with SWMN Christian (motion by Katie Wiese, seconded by Mark Hiniker). The board also approved the district’s Portrait of a Graduate framework and the Crisis Management Plan for 2025–26 (motion by Clerk Christina DeBates, seconded by Tyler Fruechte). All motions recorded in the minutes carried unanimously.

Principals Sonja Ortman and Jennifer Moravetz provided building-level updates: Ortman described a new college-and-career readiness platform called SchoolLinks; Moravetz outlined back-to-school family connection conferences, a new elementary flag pole, playground communications improvements and a newly constructed special-education classroom. Lisa Pease reported on paraeducator conference participation, CPR refresher training, back-to-school in-service activities and the district’s use of eduCLIMBER for data tracking.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. on a motion by Katie Wiese, seconded by Mark Hiniker. The minutes were later approved and dated Sept. 22, 2025; minutes were submitted by Deb Peschon and bear signatures of Chairman Brad Carson and Clerk Christina DeBates.