Milaca school board approves $2.1 million transfers, multiple summer hires and county public‑health MOU

The Milaca Public School District board of education met May 18, 2026, and approved its consent agenda, authorizing account transfers totaling $2,100,000, hiring multiple summer and seasonal staff, accepting a scholarship donation and approving a memorandum of understanding with Mille Lacs County for mass dispensing site coordination.

Chairperson Aimee Struffert called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The board recorded six members present and one absent; Superintendent David Wedin was also in attendance.

The board approved several inter‑bank transfers from PMA/MN Trust to First National Bank: $250,000 on April 2, 2026; $800,000 on April 14, 2026; $250,000 on April 20, 2026; and $800,000 on April 29, 2026, a total of $2,100,000. The transfers were included as part of the consent agenda, which passed by voice vote (motion carried, 6–0). The minutes do not list additional detail about the transfers’ intended use beyond the consent documentation.

Also bundled into the consent agenda were numerous personnel actions to staff summer programs and seasonal operations. The minutes list hires and notices of assignment for marching band color guard and coaching positions; a summer aquatics coordinator; seasonal grounds and cleaning staff; multiple summer ESY (Extended School Year) paraprofessionals and teachers; and a roster of Targeted Services teachers. Many summer teacher roles in the minutes are recorded at $32.00 per hour; examples include Summer ESY and Targeted Services teachers appointed for early June sessions through June 25, 2026. The board also accepted several resignations effective in late May 2026, including two high‑school special education teachers and a high‑school business teacher (resignations effective May 27, 2026). These personnel items were approved as part of the consent agenda (motion carried, 6–0).

The board adopted a resolution to accept gifts and donations under School Board Policy 706 and Minnesota Statute 465.03. The meeting minutes include a donation table entry recording acceptance of $4,500 described as an "Energy Student Services Office Scholarship" with the donor entry shown as "East Central" and "Milaca High School" in the minutes; the resolution passed with the six members present voting in favor and one member absent.

Board members also approved, by motion and unanimous recorded vote, a Memorandum of Understanding between Independent School District No. 912 and Mille Lacs County and the Mille Lacs County Community and Veterans Services Public Health Unit. The MOU concerns the district's role in county mass dispensing site planning and coordination for public‑health emergencies. The minutes record the motion (moved by Caity Eggen, seconded by Nathan Neuhart) and the vote as 6–0.

During board member items, Member Nathan Neuhart reported on the groundbreaking for the new Rum River Special Education Cooperative building. Treasurer Jere Day discussed possible methods for distributing scholarship foundation information to graduating seniors; the discussion was noted without formal action and may return for follow‑up.

The meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m. after a final motion and vote. The minutes show consistent 6–0 votes on procedural and consent items; the record lists Board Member Jennifer Corrow as absent.

What happens next: personnel hires and MOU approvals were adopted in the consent actions recorded in the minutes; the district did not record additional timeline or implementation details for the transfers or donor restrictions beyond the minutes. Any operational or contractual steps (for the MOU or transfers) would be reflected in subsequent staff reports or future board packets.