Sue Richards-Chase

The board addressed several administrative and operational items. This included the hiring of personnel for various school roles and the approval of participation in the Cass County Children's Initiative. The board also passed a resolution accepting donations, performed a first reading of a business manager job description, and approved several insurance contracts covering health, life, disability, dental, and vision insurance for district staff. Additionally, the board approved a property, casualty, and work comp insurance quote and renewed contracts for various coaches and advisors for the upcoming winter season. A retirement for a staff member was also formally accepted.

The meeting included the approval of the agenda and consent agenda items, which covered the approval of previous working meeting and regular meeting minutes from October 2025, the payment listing for October 2025, the acceptance of a Robotics Coach resignation, and the contingent hiring of a Varsity Head Girls Softball Coach. New business involved the approval of a Resolution Accepting Donations, the adoption of the Job Description for a Business Manager, the first reading of the Van Driver Job Description, approval for Board members to attend the 2026 MSBA Leadership Conference, and approval for two Extended Field Trip Requests for the Girls and Boys Basketball teams to attend tournaments in late December 2025. Personnel actions included the approval of a contract for a Chemical Dependency Counselor, ratification of the contract for the Cass Lake Education Association (CLEA), and acceptance of the retirement of a High School Custodian.

The Special (Organizational) School Board Meeting involved the election of officers for the 2026 school year, including the Chairperson (Millie Baird), Vice Chairperson (Terri Finn), Clerk (Jennie Reyes), and Treasurer (Jolyn Donnell). Key new business items included adopting the 2026 School Board meeting schedule, designating WesternBank of Cass Lake and Duluth as the official depository, naming The Bemidji Pioneer as the official newspaper, and designating Fuller Wallner, Attorneys at Law as legal counsel. Board members were appointed to various committees, and the monthly salaries for Board Members ($300.00), the Chairperson ($400.00), and stipends for special meetings and travel were established. Authorization was granted for investing surplus funds and conducting electronic fund transfers.

The working meeting involved the approval of the agenda, followed by a period for public comment, which had none. Key activities included a review of the upcoming School Board Regular Meeting agenda for December 22, 2025, covering Consent Agenda, New Business, Personnel, and Upcoming Meetings. Reports were heard or noted from various departments including Finance, Elementary School, Middle School, ALC, Indian Education, Grants/Testing/Compliance, Food Service, Activities, Transportation, and Technology. The Superintendent's report was also addressed. The section on Upcoming Meetings and Events detailed schedules for committee meetings, the subsequent Regular Meeting, Winter Break, a Safety Committee Meeting, and the MSBA Leadership Conference.

Key discussions included the approval of the meeting agenda. Under the consent agenda, approval was granted for payment listings for November and the acceptance of a resignation for the Robotics Coach position. Several new hires were approved contingent upon standard checks. New business involved a presentation on Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness, the approval of the second reading and adoption of the Van Driver Job Description, and the approval of Indian Policies and Procedures for the 2025-2026 period. The Board also set the date for the Special (Organizational) School Board Meeting for January 6, 2026. In personnel matters, the hire of a 7th-grade girls basketball coach was approved.