Blooming Prairie School Board
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #756
BLOOMING PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA
APRIL 21, 2025
A regular meeting of the School Board of
Independent School District #756, Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, was held in the High School Media Center on Monday, April 21, 2025, at
7:15 p.m.
(Open Forum at
7:00 p.m.)
OPEN FORUM –
Lauren Berglund talked about a new non-profit organization that she leads. It is called “Girls Who Code” and consists of 6 girls in 5th/6th grade. They meet two times per week for one hour and she is hoping to expand the program next year.
I. CALL TO ORDER – CHAIRPERSON
II. PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
III. ROLL CALL - CLERK Crystal Studer, Dean Meshke, Brady
Hullopeter, Jon Sunde, Melissa Stoen, Rodney Krell, Kelly Braaten
ALSO PRESENT:
Superintendent of Schools, High School Principal, High School Associate Principal, Elementary Principal, Members of the BPTA, Members of the Press, & Student Representatives
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Jon Sunde and seconded by Crystal Studer to approve the agenda as presented.
Motion carried.
(7 Aye/0 Nay)
V. PRINCIPAL
REPORTS
Reports given by Mr. Schwarz, Mr. Worke, & Ms. Mach.
VI. ITEMS ON WHICH BOARD ACTION IS
REQUESTED
A. Minutes, Bills,
Treasurer’s Report, Resignations/
Terminations,
Maternity/Paternity/Medical Leaves, and Donations
Motion by Melissa Stoen and seconded by Dean Meshke to approve items in the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried. (7 Aye/0 Nay)
B. Employment
Motion by Crystal Studer and seconded by Jon Sunde to approve
Annalise Hullopeter as a long-term substitute teacher for Hannah
Hessler while she is out on maternity leave. Placement will be at BA Step 0 of the master contract with a start date of April 14, 2025.
Motion carried.
(6 Aye/0 Nay-Hullopeter Abstained)
Motion by Kelly Braaten and seconded by Dean Meshke to approve Taylor Wagner as a Special Education Teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Placement will be at BA Step 5 of the master contract. Motion carried. (7 Aye/0 Nay)
C. Volunteer Coaches
Motion by Melissa Stoen and seconded by Brady Hullopeter to approve Mark Lee as a
volunteer baseball coach this spring. Motion
carried. (7 Aye/0 Nay)
D. Resolution for MSHSL
Motion by Kelly Braaten and seconded by Dean Meshke to approve the MSHSL Resolution for the 2025-26 school year. Motion carried.
(7 Aye/0 Nay)
E. Title I Resolution
Motion by Jon Sunde and seconded by Crystal Studer to approve the Title I Resolution for the 2025-26 school year. Motion carried.
(7 Aye/0 Nay)
F. Student Insurance Program
Motion by Melissa Stoen and seconded by Kelly Braaten to approve
participating in the
“Student Assurance Services, Inc.” voluntary insurance coverage program for the 2025-26 school year. Motion
carried. (7 Aye /0 Nay)
G. Education Identity & Access Management Resolution
Motion by Melissa Stoen and seconded by Dean Meshke to approve the Education Identity and Access Management Board Resolution. Motion carried. (7 Aye/0 Nay)
H. Speech Therapy Service Contract
Motion by Crystal Studer and seconded by Brady Hullopeter to approve the Speech Partners, LLC contract at a rate of $88.79 per hour for the 2025-26 school year (3.5% increase).
Motion carried.
(7 Aye/0 Nay)
I. Roof Top Unit #2
Elementary
Motion by Jon Sunde and seconded by Brady
Hullopeter to approve working with MMC to install the Daikin unit to replace our current roof top unit #2 at the
elementary school. Motion carried with a roll call vote. (7 Aye: Studer, Meshke, Hullopeter,
Sunde, Stoen, Krell, Braaten/0 Nay)
J. Steele County
Children’s Mental Health Collaborative Grant Application - FY26
Motion by Kelly Braaten and seconded by Melissa Stoen to approve the FY26 grant for $58,240 from Steele County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative to fund a school mental health worker. Motion carried.
(7 Aye/0 Nay)
K. Pre-School Fees
Motion by Melissa Stoen and seconded by Crystal Studer to approve the increase in Pre-School fees. Motion carried.
(7 Aye/0 Nay)
L.Sports Fees
Motion by Crystal Studer and seconded by Kelly Braaten to approve the family max increase for extracurricular fees from $400 to $450. Motion carried. (7 Aye/0 Nay)
M. Buy-Back Program (Apple Devices)
Motion by Brady
Hullopeter and
seconded by Melissa Stoen to approve entering into an agreement with Mac of All Trades to buy back our Apple devices. Motion carried with a roll call vote. (7 Aye: Studer, Meshke, Hullopeter,
Sunde, Stoen, Krell, Braaten/0 Nay)
N. Additional Building Project Contract
Approvals
None at this time.
O. Acceptance of Bids
None at this time.
P. Rejection of Bids
None at this time.
Q. Equipment
Purchases
Motion by Melissa Stoen and seconded by Dean Meshke to approve
working with Wenger Corporation to
purchase various furniture and equipment for the Performing Arts Center totaling $51,297.05. Motion carried with a roll call vote.
(7 Aye: Studer, Meshke, Hullopeter, Sunde, Stoen, Krell, Braaten/0 Nay)
Motion by Jon Sunde and seconded by Brady Hullopeter to approve the Centruy Fencing quote of $43,515 for outfield fencing and sideline
fencing for our new baseball and new softball fields. Motion carried with a roll call vote. (7 Aye: Studer, Meshke,
Hullopeter, Sunde, Stoen, Krell, Braaten/0 Nay)
VII. ITEMS OF
INFORMATION AND/OR DISCUSSION ONLY
A. Radon Testing
IEA conducted radon
testing one month ago in our facilities. All tests came back with no issues.
B. Pre-School
Enrollment
We have 14 students on the waitlist for
4-year-old Pre-School. We are hoping to add a second section to
accommodate these students.
C. Building Project Financial Report
Final funds will go
towards the roofing at the elementary school.
D. Committee Reports
A committee report was given for the following committees: Education Foundation, Steele
County Collaborative,
and ZED.
E. Enrollment Data
Enrollment for the
2024-25 school year per JMC as of April 15, 2025 was 334 at the
elementary school (grades K-4) and 519 at the intermediate/high school (grades 5-12) with approximately 12 PSEO students.
F. Dates to Note
Dates to Note April 17 No School/Teacher Inservice
April 18 Easter Break
April 21 Easter Break
April 22 No School/
Teacher Inservice
May 23 Graduation
Practice/Last Day for Seniors at 12:15 p.m.
May 30 Last Day of School - Students
Dismissed at 12:45 p.m.
Graduation 6:30 p.m.
June 2 Teacher In-Service (1/2 Day)
VIII. SUPERINTENDENT OR BOARD MEMBER ITEMS
-Melissa & Crystal will meet to potentially update our current committee lists.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Jon Sunde and seconded by Dean Meshke to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
Motion carried.
(7 Aye/0 Nay)
Tentatively, the next Regular School Board Work Session will be held on Thursday,
May 15, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. in the High School Board Room.
Tentatively, the next Regular School Board Meeting will be on
Monday, May 19, 2025, at 7:15 p.m. in the High School Media Center. (Open Forum begins at 7:00 p.m.).
A complete copy of the official minutes may be found in their entirety in the official minute
book located in the superintendent’s office at the high school;
however, they will not be available until approved by the School Board.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa Stoen
Clerk of the School Board
Independent School
District #756
Blooming Prairie,
Minnesota
5.28