Northland Community Schools board approves FY26 budget, contracts, leases and personnel moves

Board Chair Marc Ruyak called the Northland Community Schools (ISD #118) regular meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. June 11 in Room C113 at Northland High School in Remer. Five members were present and two were absent.

The board approved the district's FY26 budget after a motion by Board member Aaron Ammerman and a second by Board member Tyler Seifert; the vote was recorded as 5–0 with Jason Perkins and Bill Wake absent. The vote was the lead action of a largely procedural meeting in which the board passed a series of routine contracts, renewals and policy second readings.

Among the contracts and appointments approved, the board named 1st National Bank of Walker as the district's official depository for 2025–2026; approved Pemberton, Sorlie, Rufer, Kerschner, PLLP as school attorneys for 2025–2026; and approved multiple service agreements with ARCC, including a contract for services for 2025–2026 and a Business Manager training agreement running July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. The board also approved the FY25–26 lease agreement with Little Sand Group Homes and the UNLC lease agreement for the coming year, and renewed the Special Education Programming Services Agreement with IASC for 2025–2026.

The board approved an Early Childhood Collaborative Agreement between Northland and NECC (Family Center) for 2025–2026. At the request of Mark Gravelle, the board adopted MSHSCTL student participation requirements for the Trap Team.

In policy business, the board approved the second readings of Policy 421 (Gifts to Employees and School Board Members), Policy 422 (Policies Incorporated by Reference), Policy 424 (License Status) and Policy 721 (Uniform Grant Guidance). The board approved a resolution designating Mary Yakibchuk to act as the Identified Official with Authority (IOwA) for Northland Community Schools in the state's Education Identity Access Management (EDIAM) system, with Tina Anderson named as proxy; that resolution was recommended by the superintendent and passed by the full board.

The board approved a call for bids for milk, propane and snow removal for the 2025–2026 school year, setting a bid opening for July 8, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. The minutes note an NREM negotiations update as a discussion-only agenda item but provide no substantive detail on that matter.

On personnel matters the board approved unpaid vacation for Ken Grabinski for March 9–13, 2026; accepted the resignation of Activities Director Carter McLaughlin effective June 30, 2025; and approved hires including Karlys Gries as an Elementary Special Education Teacher at MA+30, Step 10 and Brittany McClellan as High School Leadership Advisor. All motions recorded in the minutes passed unanimously, with a 5–0 tally and two absences noted.

The board announced upcoming meetings (Policy Committee June 23, 2025; Regular Meeting July 9, 2025; Work Session July 23, 2025) and adjourned at 6:14 p.m. following a motion by Linda Knox and a second by Aaron Ammerman.

Votes at a glance: FY26 budget — approved 5–0; 1st National Bank of Walker named depository — approved 5–0; Pemberton et al. approved as school attorneys — approved 5–0; ARCC contracts (services and training) — approved 5–0; Little Sand Group Homes lease and UNLC lease — approved 5–0; IASC special education renewal — approved 5–0; Early Childhood Collaborative with NECC — approved 5–0; adoption of MSHSCTL requirements for Trap Team — approved 5–0; IOwA designation for EDIAM (Mary Yakibchuk, proxy Tina Anderson) — approved 5–0; multiple policy second readings (421, 422, 424, 721) — each approved 5–0; personnel actions (vacation, resignation acceptance, hires) — each approved 5–0.

The minutes list gifts/donations accepted by resolution: $500 from Emily Firemen’s Relief Association (Trap Team), $50 from Mike Knapp (Trap Team) and $100 from First National Bank (Wrestling Team).