Homestead Township Notice
The regular monthly meetings held November 2025 through March 2026 will be held at Steve Bohne’s address 56955 Minnesota St. at 6:00 p.m.
Jason Cooley, Clerk
Published November 5, 2025
MINUTES
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 553
NEW YORK MILLS, OTTER TAIL & BECKER COUNTY, MN
REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2025
CALL TO ORDER BY THE PRESIDENT- at 5:30 pm. Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE & DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM- All School Board Members, Superintendent A. Johnson, J.Brockway, M. Young-Lecoustre, M. Maki, B. Dunrud, D. Selander. Visitors D. Vomhof, D. Faysak, B. Weller, T. Saewert, M. Wattenhofer, L. Christenson (ICS), M. Ondralek (ICS), D. Miller (ICS), A. Strong of Eide Bailly (virtual) and C. Koenen of the press.
SETTING THE AGENDA TO DETERMINE THE ORDERS OF THE DAY– Motion by Braukmann, Second by Seelhammer to approve the agenda as presented. Vote- u/c.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES- Motion by Ehnert, Second by Kern to approve the 9/22/25 Regular Meeting minutes. Vote- u/c.
BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND APPROVAL OF BILLS- Motion by Geiser, Second by Schermerhorn to pay the Monthly Financial Claims per fund and the approved Electronic Fund Transfers for Minnesota State Withholding deposits and FICA/PERA/TRA/Annuity deposits. Vote- u/c.
PRESENTATIONS AND VISITOR’S COMMENTS- PRESENTATIONS, Eide Bailly – 2025 Audit (virtual), ICS Facility Update.
REPORTS- Business Office Report- Historic Enrollment, Audit complete, Elementary Report- Teacher Workshop, Eagle Academy, High School- Fall conferences, Teacher workshop, Superintendent Report- ALICE Safety Training, Fund balance decrease, Technology- Security door and camera updates, AI Tech committee, Transportation- DOT Random Inspection, Bus Safety Student Training, Building and Grounds- New scoreboard on JV Field, Fire Marshall inspection, Food Service Report- Commodity information, Possible healthy snack machine, Student Representative Report- Rachel’s Challenge presentation. Activities Report- Fall Sports wrap-up, MSHSL grade/participation/coaching requirement, School Board- Personnel and Negotiations 9/23/25 and 10/7/25, Superintendent Review.
OLD BUSINESS-
SECOND READING OF POLICIES 601.3L, 516L, 202L, 205, AND 212.1L.- Motion by Braukmann, Second by Seelhammer to approve the second reading of the above policies. Vote u/c.
CONSENT ITEMS- Motion by Braukmann, Second by Seelhammer to approve the consent agenda as follows: from F&M Bank- $5000 for football scoreboard, Perham Health- $5000 for football scoreboard, NYM Lions Club- $5000 to baseball scoreboard, EOT County Ag Society- $250 to FFA, and MEETING DATES- Workshop11/11/2025 at 6:30 pm. Approved. Vote-u/c.
NEW BUSINESS
ASSURANCE OF COMPLIANCE- Motion by Ehnert, Second by Kern, to approve and submit the assurance of compliance with state and federal law prohibiting discrimination. Vote- u/c.
ACTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT AND REVIEW OF THE FY25 AUDIT- Motion by Ehnert, Second by Geiser to acknowledge receipt and review of the FY25 Audit as presented. Vote- u/c.
WRESTLING OVERNIGHT TRIP-Motion by Braukmann, Second by Schermerhorn to approve the overnight trip for B Squad Wrestling, December 19, 2025. Vote u/c.
WRESTLING OVERNIGHT TRIP-Motion by Braukmann, Second by Kern to approve the overnight trip for A Squad Wrestling, January 9, 2026. Vote u/c.
ESTABLISHING COMBINED POLLING PLACES- Member Ehnert introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COMBINED POLLING PLACES FOR MULTIPLE PRECINCTS AND DESIGNATING HOURS DURING WHICH THE POLLING PLACES WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR VOTING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS NOT HELD ON THE DAY OF A STATEWIDE ELECTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Independent School District No.553, State of Minnesota, as follows:
1. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the precincts and polling places for school district elections are those precincts or parts of precincts located within the boundaries of the school district which have been established by the cities or towns located in whole or in part within the school district. The board hereby confirms those precincts and polling places so established by those municipalities.
2. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.11, the board may establish a combined polling place for several precincts for school elections not held on the day of a statewide election. The following combined polling places are established to serve the precincts specified for all school district special and general elections not held on the same day as a statewide election:
COMBINED POLLING PLACE: NYM City Hall 28, Centennial 84 Drive W. New York Mills, MN
COMBINED POLLING PLACE: Spruce Grove Township, Wolf Lake Lions Community Hall, 103 North Manninen Avenue, Wolf Lake, MN
3. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 205A.09, the polling places will remain open for voting for school district elections not held on the same day as a statewide election between the hours of 10:00 o’clock a.m. and 8:00 o’clock p.m.
4. The clerk is directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the county auditors of each of the counties in which the school district is located in whole or in part within 30 days after its adoption.
5. As required by Minnesota Statutes, Section 204B.16, Subdivision 1a, the clerk is hereby authorized and directed to give written notice of new polling place locations to each affected household with at least one registered voter in the school district whose school district polling place location has been changed. The notice must be a nonforwardable notice mailed at least twenty-five (25) days before the date of the first election to which it will apply. A notice that is returned as undeliverable must be forwarded immediately to the appropriate County Auditor, who shall change the registrant’s status to “challenged” in the statewide registration system.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing Resolution was duly seconded by Braukmann and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Geiser, Braukmann, Mursu, Seelhammer, Ehnert, Kern, and Schermerhorn and the following voted against the same: none, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE APPLICATION TO MSHSL FOUNDATION- Motion by Braukmann, Second by Kern to approve Grant application for student activities fees. Approved. Vote u/c.
LETTER TO MSHSL AND MDE REGARDING FEDERAL TITLE IX VIOLATION- Motion by Braukmann, Second by Seelhammer to approve the letter written to MSHSL and MDE. Vote u/c.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS- High School BET-October 14,2025, Elementary BET October 22,2025.
PERSONNEL CONSENT ITEMS- Motion by Seelhammer, Second by Schermerhorn to approve the Personnel Consent Agenda as follows: APPOINTMENTS- M. Stevens- Behind the Wheel Instructor, D. Geiser- Head Girls Wrestling Coach, LEAVE OF ABSENCE REQUEST- M. Bachim- Extend leave to January 16, 2026, REQUEST FOR TIME OFF W/O PAY- B. McManigle- October 23, 28, November 3 and 4, 2025, A. Wright- March 23-March 27,2026 Approved. Vote u/c.
ADJOURNMENT– Motion by Geiser, Second by Schermerhorn to adjourn at 7:13 pm. Vote- u/c.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Jodi Seelhammer, Clerk
Independent School District #553
Published November 5, 2025
PRESS MINUTES
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 553
NEW YORK MILLS, OTTER TAIL & BECKER COUNTY, MN
REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
CALL TO ORDER BY THE PRESIDENT- at 5:30 pm. Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE & DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM- All School Board Members, Superintendent A. Johnson, J. Brockway, M. Young-Lecoustre, B. Dunrud, and M. Maki. Visitors D. Faysak, D. Vomhof, and L. Christensen, G. Choida, L. Dyer of ICS.
SETTING THE AGENDA TO DETERMINE THE ORDERS OF THE DAY– Motion by Braukmann, Second by Geiser to approve the agenda as presented. Vote- u/c.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES- Motion by Schermerhorn, Second by Kern to approve the 8/25/25 Regular Meeting minutes. Vote- u/c.
BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND APPROVAL OF BILLS- Motion by Seelhammer, Second by Schermerhorn to pay the Monthly Financial Claims per fund and the approved Electronic Fund Transfers for Minnesota State Withholding deposits and FICA/PERA/TRA/Annuity deposits. Vote- u/c.
PRESENTATION BY ICS- School Study.
REPORTS– Business Office Report- First Day Enrollment, History and Projections; Administrative Report-Activities-JV Baseball Scoreboard, HUDL; Elementary-Testing Updates, Fall Calendar/Events; High School-Start of school, School-wide program in October, Intervention services; Superintendent-School year start-up; Technology-software renewals, WiFi and camera updates; Transportation-New Bus, Transfinder, Staffing; Building and Grounds-Elem office HVAC work, Football field updates and electrical; Food Service-Staffing, possible after school snack cart; Student Representative-Open Mic Night, Homecoming; School Board-Negotiations and Personnel 08/26/25, Curriculum, Instruction, and Policy 9/22/25.
OLD BUSINESS-
SECOND READING OF POLICIES 410, 413, 414, 415, 506, 514, 522, 524, 616 AND 806. Motion by Geiser, second by Braukmann to approve the second reading of policies. Vote u/c.
CONSENT ITEMS- Motion by Kern, Second by Seelhammer to approve the consent agenda as follows: DONATIONS- $5000 from Lakeview Trust Estate Law PLLC-FBl scoreboard, $5000 from Brunswick for Lego League, $600 from NYM Lions to Booster Club, $300 from Brunswick to Booster Club, and $828 from NYM Lions Club to Bowling Team. Vote-u/c.
NEW BUSINESS
ADOPTION OF PROPOSED LEVY– Motion by Braukmann, Second by Kern to approve the maximum proposed levy. The Truth in Taxation Hearing -Dec.15, 2025, 6:01 p.m. Vote- u/c.
NEW POSITION FOR HEAD GIRLS WRESTLING COACH-Motion by Schermerhorn, Second by Kern to approve posting for a Head Girls Wrestling Coach. Vote-u/c.
FIRST READING OF POLICIES 601.3L, 516L, 202L, 205, AND 212.1L. Motion by Ehnert, Second by Schermerhorn to approve the first reading of policies. Vote-u/c.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS- High School BET Meeting 08/28/25, Elementary BET Meeting 09/16/25
PERSONNEL CONSENT ITEMS- Motion by Seelhammer, Second by Kern to approve the Personnel Consent Agenda as follows: APPOINTMENTS-R. Zimmerman-Kitchen, A. Foley-Part time Paraprofessional, B. Weller-Parent Educator ECFE, V. Olson-ECFE, K. Holtti-Van Driver, A. Wright-Fall Play Director, D. Dykhoff-Long Term Substitute 1/1/26-03/2/26; RESIGNATIONS-R. Lausten-Paraprofessional, LEAVE OF ABSENCE REQUEST-T. Erickson 1/1/26-03/2/26; CONTRACT CHANGES-R. Haverland-Full-time Paraprofessional, D. Kraft decrease to 20 Hours/week; LANE CHANGE REQUEST- W. Grieger BA+30 to BA+50, D. Geiser MA+10 to MA+30, L. Roberts Veazie BA+30 to MA, K. Salo BA+10 to BA+20. Approved.
ADJOURNMENT– Motion by Geiser, Second by Ehnert to adjourn at 6:46 pm. Vote- u/c.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
Jodi Seelhammer, Clerk
Independent School District #553
Published November 5, 2025
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #553
On October 27, 2025, the New York Mills School Board approved the audit provided by the accounting firm of Eide Bailly, LLP. Per Minnesota Department of Education guidelines, Form DE-001110-46 is posted on the school district website. www.nymills.k12.mn.us This lists the final numbers associated with this as well as the FY 2026 Revenue and Expenditure board approved budget. This budget will be reviewed and revised as necessary. In addition to this the district report card can be viewed at the Minnesota Department of Education website at: http://education.state.mn.us. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact the district office at 218-385-4201.
Published November 5, 2025