Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Leadership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board re-elects John Steffl as chair; Rotter elected vice chair
Summary
At its Jan. 5 organizational meeting, the Detroit Lakes Public Schools board elected John Steffl chair by acclamation, chose Mary Rotter as vice chair after a roll-call vote, and appointed Julie Smith-Yliniemi clerk and Michelle Okeson treasurer for 2026.
Board Chair John Steffl called the Jan. 5 organizational meeting of the School Board of Independent School District No. 22 to order at 5:30 PM and the board moved quickly through officer elections. John Steffl was nominated by Mary Rotter and "Steffl was elected by acclamation." Mary Rotter and Michelle Okeson were both nominated for vice chair; after voting Rotter was elected vice chair, with Walther, Nelson and Okeson voting for Okeson and Steffl, Rotter, and Smith-Yliniemi voting for Rotter. "Smith Yliniemi was elected by acclamation" as Board Clerk and "Okeson was elected by acclamation" as Board Treasurer.
The votes formalize leadership and administrative roles for the 2026 board year and establish who will preside over regular and special sessions. The re-elected Chair and newly confirmed officers will serve until successors are chosen next year or until they resign. No contested contested challenges or appeals were recorded during nominations.
