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Wadena-Deer Creek school board elects vice chair, approves budget amendment and a package of policy updates
Summary
At its Feb. 24, 2025 regular meeting, the Wadena-Deer Creek (Independent School District #2155) School Board elected Brandon Kern as vice chair by acclamation, kept 2025 board pay at 2024 rates, approved personnel and financial actions, adopted a budget amendment and directed administration to recommend budget reductions, and approved MSBA-recommended policy updates (second reading).
The Wadena-Deer Creek (Independent School District #2155) School Board met Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, and elected Brandon Kern as vice chair by acclamation. Chair Dan Lawson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.; the board moved unanimously on a series of personnel, financial and policy items before adjourning at 6:36 p.m.
Why it matters: The board adopted a budget amendment and a resolution directing administration to prepare budget-reduction recommendations, a procedural step signaling the district is preparing for spending reductions in the 2024–2025 budget year. The board also approved a broad set of policy updates recommended by MSBA (Minnesota School Boards Association) on second reading, which will govern district operations and programs.
Board decisions and votes The board voted unanimously on all recorded motions. Key outcomes included:
- Leadership: Melissa Seelhammer nominated Brandon Kern for vice chair; Kern was elected by acclamation.
- Compensation: The board voted to leave 2025 board compensation unchanged from 2024. Stated 2025 rates are: $2,200 annual board member salary; $600 for the chair; $135 for vice chair, clerk and treasurer; and $1,175 for negotiators.
- Personnel: The board approved hires (Kirsten Carry, Food Service; Jerome Nelson, Custodian; Taylor Busch, assistant track coach; Eric Foley, bus driver) and accepted resignations from Kate Decker (EL teacher) and Monica Watson (social worker/therapist).
- Finance and bookkeeping: The board amended the agenda to add and then approved Manual Journal Entries. It approved disbursements including Vendor Checks #47256–47464 totaling $384,908.41, credit card charges of $5,617.39 (BMO Harris Bank), and Student Activity checks #23378–23389 totaling $17,186.61. The board also accepted donations of $300 from Nathan and Annamarie Tabery for the music department and $1,000 from the MN FFA Foundation for FFA.
- AIPAC compliance report: Mary Ellenson provided an update on the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC). After the update, the board voted unanimously to issue a vote of nonconcurrence for the AIPAC Compliance Report.
- Budget action: The board approved an amendment to the 2024–2025 budget and adopted a resolution directing administration to prepare budget-reduction recommendations; the resolution was introduced by Chair Dan Lawson and seconded by Amanda Schmidt and passed unanimously.
- Policy updates: The board approved, on second reading, a slate of policy updates recommended by MSBA covering Series 100 (School District), Series 200 (School Board), Series 400 (Personnel), Series 500 (Students), Series 600 (Education Programs), Series 700 (Non-Instructional Operations) and Series 800 (District Operations). The board also approved an Early Admission to Kindergarten policy designated Policy #536.
What the board did not decide No detailed content of the AIPAC update was provided in the minutes beyond that an update occurred and that the board issued a vote of nonconcurrence for the AIPAC Compliance Report. The minutes record unanimous votes but do not provide roll-call vote-by-name on each motion; they record movers and seconders for motions.
Next steps The board set its next regular meeting for Monday, March 17, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Robertson Theatre. The minutes were signed by Board Clerk Barb Tumberg and Board Chair Dan Lawson.
