Mesabi East school board approves $450,564 Apple lease, $1.37M payrolls and multiple purchases

The Mesabi East School District Board of Education on March 2, 2026 approved a series of financial and operational measures, including payrolls and bills totaling $1,370,464.94 and a $450,564 lease-purchase agreement with Apple Inc.

Chair Walt Hautala called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and the board recorded a unanimous vote to approve the agenda. In the public-comments portion, Student Council representatives outlined plans for a 7th- and 8th-grade Spring Fling.

On routine business the board approved the consent agenda, which included the payrolls and bills amount and the minutes of the Feb. 2, 2026 regular meeting. The board approved the Apple lease-purchase agreement for technology equipment in the amount of $450,564; the district will make payments of $116,478.93 each July beginning in 2026 under the approved schedule.

The board approved the 2024–2025 audit as presented and then considered proposals for future audit work. Directors voted to accept a quote from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP for audit professional services for 2026 only (the board declined to approve a multi-year engagement as presented and approved the single-year arrangement).

The board also approved the Bound Pro+ plan for 2026–2027 and a Memorandum of Understanding with Local #2780 to provide emergency short-call substitute teachers. A broad slate of spring coaching recommendations for baseball, golf, softball and track for 2025–2026 was approved, including named head and assistant coaches and multiple volunteer coaches.

Operational purchases approved included a bus camera system from Data Center Warehouse for $27,632 and a convection oven for the cafeteria for $13,598. The board approved hiring Andrew Latola as a bus driver up to 25 hours per week effective March 2, 2026, contingent on a satisfactory background check and obtaining required bus endorsement.

On financing matters the board adopted a resolution authorizing the district to enter into a line of credit agreement with a financial institution; the roll-call vote recorded six ayes and no nays. The board also passed a resolution accepting monetary donations totaling $2,525: $1,000 designated for an anti-bullying program/dance team, $25 for a Pre-K classroom, and $1,500 earmarked for Mesabi East Prom ($1,000 for the class of 2027) and “I Love to Read” ($500). The donations resolution cites Minnesota Statute 465.03.

Reports were provided "under separate cover," the board set its next regular meeting for April 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Board Room (204), and adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda (payrolls and minutes): approved (motion passed, unanimous). • Apple lease-purchase agreement, $450,564: approved (motion passed, unanimous). • 2024–2025 audit approval: approved (motion passed, unanimous); audit services (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) approved for 2026 only (motion passed, unanimous). • Bound Pro+ plan 2026–2027: approved (motion passed, unanimous). • MOU with Local #2780 (emergency short-call substitutes): approved (motion passed, unanimous). • Spring coaching recommendations (multiple hires/volunteers): approved (motion passed, unanimous). • Bus cameras, $27,632; convection oven, $13,598: approved (motions passed, unanimous). • Bus driver hire (Andrew Latola), pending background/endorsement: approved (motion passed, unanimous). • Resolution authorizing line of credit: approved (roll-call ayes: Amanda Gross, Chris Baudhuin, Walt Hautala, Pamela LaFrenier, Kathy Undeland, Justin Adams). • Acceptance of donations ($2,525): approved (roll-call unanimous).

The board’s actions were recorded in the official minutes. For more detail on personnel actions, equipment specifications, and the audit report, the district noted reports were available under separate cover.