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Fairmont Area School Board approves donations, contracts, personnel hires and routine fiscal items
Summary
At its July 22 meeting the Fairmont Area School Board accepted a large list of donations, renewed contracts (MSBA, counseling, Title I services), approved the district audit contract, contracted food-service agreements, set organizational roles and pay rates, and approved several personnel hires; motions generally carried though some votes recorded an unnamed opposition.
The Fairmont Area School Board on July 22 approved a package of routine but consequential actions, including acceptance of multiple donations, renewal of professional and student-support contracts, authorization of audit and food‑service agreements, organizational designations for the new fiscal year and several personnel hires.
Donations: The board accepted a lengthy list of donations and grants (appendix A) supporting prom, transportation, debate and speech teams, elementary programs and CER activities. The administration noted the list was the largest single set of donations received during the superintendent’s tenure.
Finance and procurement: Director of finance Jessica Court reviewed multiple bill runs covering FY25 and FY26 and highlighted two large items tied to facilities work: a $50,264 payment to Fairmont Glass & Sign Products for LTFM projects and a $77,584 payment to Cullenex for a replacement dishwasher (the district stated the dishwasher cost is paid from the food-service fund). The board approved the wire transfers and bills listed in the packet; a recorded opposition was noted during the vote but the motion carried.
Contracts and services: The board renewed Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) membership and policy services for 2025–26 (fees noted in the packet) and reauthorized the agreement with Counseling Services of Southern Minnesota to provide school-based mental‑health staff. The board also authorized an audit services agreement with I D Bailey (estimated audit fee $37,200; technology fee $1,860; single-audit fees starting at $5,900) and approved joint food-service and vended-meal contracts with partner schools and Head Start as presented in appendices H–J2.
Organizational and governance items: As part of the yearly organizational agenda the board designated meeting dates (second and fourth Tuesdays), named depositories and authorized signers, set board compensation ($2,400 per member; $3,000 for the president) and set pay rates and stipends for substitutes, interpreters, tutors and crossing guards (crossing guards raised to $15/hour). The district also named officers and coordinators required by law and policy (Title IX officer, 504 coordinator, HIPAA compliance officer, homeless liaison, health and safety coordinator, federal programs administrator, and MDE user-authorized official).
Title I equitable services: The board approved Title I equitable‑services contracts with Lutheran Special Ed Ministries for the district’s non‑public schools; the administration clarified that these services are funded from the non‑public equitable share of Title I allocations and that payments depend on final federal allocations.
Personnel: The board approved principal recommendations to hire several long‑term substitutes and a new elementary teacher effective Aug. 25, 2025: Jill Monahan (HS long‑term substitute), Kelsey Garry (elementary long‑term substitute), Samantha Cles (elementary teacher), and Ella Martin (HS long‑term substitute through Jan. 26, 2026).
Why it matters: Together these approvals set the district’s administrative structure, vendor relationships and near‑term staffing while committing district resources to scheduled maintenance and operations. Several items affect students directly (expanded counseling services, Title I supports, extracurricular travel funded by donations).
Votes at a glance (selected items): accept donations (appendix A) — approved (roll call); approve bills and wire transfers — approved (roll call; recorded opposition noted); renew MSBA membership and policy services — approved; renew CSSM counseling agreement — approved; enter audit contract with I D Bailey — approved; approve LTFM plan for Southern Plains Educational Cooperative (appendix G) — approved; approve food-service contracts (appendices H–J2) — approved; authorize electronic fund transfers — approved; approve Title I services contracts — approved; approve personnel recommendations — approved.
Next steps: Implementation tasks include processing contracts, onboarding newly hired staff in August, and continuing planning for facility projects and procurement as budgeted.
