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Staples-Motley School Board approves consent agenda, accepts $5,991.40 in donations and two retirements
Summary
At its Jan. 20 meeting, the Staples-Motley School District board adopted the agenda and approved the consent agenda (including an MOA with MSUM, lane changes, hires and resignations), accepted $5,991.40 in grants and donations, approved December receipts and disbursements, and accepted retirements for two teachers.
The Staples-Motley School District Board of Education met on Jan. 20, 2026, at the district office and approved its agenda, adopted a consent agenda that included minutes, a student-teaching MOA with MSUM, several staff lane changes, the hiring of two junior high boys basketball coaches and the acceptance of two staff resignations. The board accepted grants and donations totaling $5,991.40, approved December disbursements and receipts, accepted two retirements and adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
The meeting was called to order by Chair Wright at 6:00 p.m. A quorum was present: Wright, Frisk, Reeck, Trout, Reese and Freeman. Superintendent Tappe, Business Manager Hill and school principals were also in attendance. Freeman moved to adopt the agenda and Reeck seconded; the motion carried.
By unanimous motion carried, the board approved the consent agenda. Items listed under the consent agenda included approval of the Dec. 22, 2025 and Jan. 5, 2026 minutes; approval of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for student teaching with MSUM; lane-change salary adjustments for Heather Wiegand, Staci Schultz, Jake Kuehl, Rebeka Kappedal, Emily Benson, Selket Jewett, Kasey Odden and Dawn Weite; acceptance of resignations from Melissa Richards (MS/HS Food Service, effective Feb. 13, 2026) and Avery Amerud (Elementary Paraprofessional, effective Jan. 27, 2026); approval of a fundraiser requested by Middle/High School Principal Debbie Ferdon; and the hire of Trevor Wentworth and Kevin Trierweiler as junior high boys basketball coaches. The consent-agenda motion was moved by Trout and seconded by Frisk.
The board approved a resolution to accept grants and donations totaling $5,991.40 after a motion by Reeck and a second by Chair Wright. The transcript records the total amount but does not list donors or provide an itemized breakdown of those gifts.
Business Manager Hill presented the financial information for December. The board approved December disbursements by motion (Freeman moved; Trout seconded) covering the General Fund ($736,750.83), Food Service ($57,938.92), Community Service ($12,572.97), Construction Fund ($26.30), Fund 21 Student Activities ($3,457.61) and Fund 45 ($0.00). The board also approved December receipts by motion (Frisk moved; Reeck seconded), with recorded receipts of General Fund $1,231,563.75; Food Service $71,296.32; Community Service $48,382.64; Debt Service $174,630.98; Fund 21 Student Activities $2,416.95; and Fund 45 $0.00.
The agenda lists a Cabinet presentation by Health Services Director Cindy Denning; the transcript excerpt provided does not include the substance of that presentation.
The board accepted the retirement of elementary teacher Laurie Paskewitz, effective May 26, 2026, with a motion by Reeck and second by Trout. The board also accepted the retirement of middle-school teacher Laurie Trout at the end of the 2025-26 contract year by motion of Freeman and second of Frisk. The transcript records the board’s expressions of thanks noting Paskewitz’s 25 years and Trout’s 11 years of service.
The meeting concluded with routine reports from the elementary and middle/high school principals, the activities/community education director, SMEA representative Jill Kneisl and Superintendent Tappe. No substantive details of those reports appear in the transcript excerpt. Reeck moved to adjourn, Freeman seconded, and the meeting ended at 6:43 p.m. Upcoming board meetings were announced for Feb. 2, Feb. 17, March 2 and March 23, 2026, all at the district office at 6 p.m.
