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Mesabi East board approves 2025–26 handbook, personnel changes, PSEO contract and vendor bids
Summary
At its Aug. 4 meeting in Aurora, the Independent School District No. 2711 board approved routine business including payrolls and minutes, the high‑school handbook, several hires and resignations, vendor contracts for bakery and milk, a PSEO agreement with Minnesota North College and bus routes for 2025–26.
The Independent School District No. 2711 (Mesabi East Schools) board, chaired by Walt Hautala, met Aug. 4, 2025 in Board Room 204 and approved a slate of routine and personnel items for the 2025–26 school year.
Chair Walt Hautala called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and, after roll call showed Director Kathy Undeland absent, the board approved the agenda as amended on a motion by Director Chris Baudhuin, seconded by Director Amanda Gross. The consent agenda — including payrolls and bills totaling $1,066,090.79 and the July 7, 2025 regular meeting minutes — was approved on a motion by Director Baudhuin, seconded by Director Justin Adams; the minutes record unanimous consent (“All in favor—Motion passed”).
On personnel matters the board accepted resignations and approved hires. Directors accepted resignations from Maggie Lange (Elementary Teacher, effective 2025–26 school year), Amanda Sand (Elementary Teacher, effective July 29, 2025), Arlene Nyman (paraprofessional), Tiffany Clemenson (paraprofessional, effective July 10, 2025), Dennis Warner (paraprofessional) and Shannon Alaspa (janitor, effective Aug. 4, 2025). The board approved certified hires for the coming year: Greta Kokal (1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher, MA, Step 8); Christine Ranta (1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher, MA, Step 8); Gina Anderson (1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher, BA+12, Step 8); and Alexandra Negen (1.0 FTE Health/Physical Education Teacher, BA, Step 2). The minutes state wages and benefits for those hires are pursuant to the Master Agreement with Education Minnesota - Mesabi East Local #1255.
The board accepted procurement bids for the school lunch program for 2025–26: Pan’O Gold was selected to supply bakery products and Johnson Milk Company was selected to supply 1/2‑pint paper‑container milk (the milk award includes an escalator clause). The PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) contract with Minnesota North College for 2025–26 was approved. The board also approved proposed bus routes for the 2025–26 school year.
Several compensation adjustments were recorded: salary lane changes were approved effective 2025–26 for Neal Thornbloom (BA+24 to MA), Bridget Rahja (BA+24 to MA), Zoe Zorerich (BA+24 to MA) and Kayla Owens (BA to BA+12). The board authorized Kari Hunt, Payroll and Benefits Manager, as signatory to make transfers on the Retiree Insurance Account with Park State Bank and the Health Insurance Pool Account (MN Trust checking).
The board accepted a $500 donation earmarked for cheer concussion helmets and approved fall coaching recommendations, including Steve Ekman as head cross‑country running coach and Jakob Undeland as assistant boys soccer coach. The board scheduled a special meeting for Aug. 18, 2025 and set its next regular meeting for Sept. 8, 2025; Director Chris Baudhuin moved to adjourn the Aug. 4 meeting at 6:12 p.m., and the motion passed by unanimous consent.
The minutes record motions, movers and seconders for each action and consistently note unanimous approval; no public comments were recorded at this meeting.
