---

   Board Chair Marc Ruyak opened the regular board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 20 and then immediately asked the audience to exit the room for a closed session for labor negotiation strategy. When the meeting was reopened for public Ruyak proceeded with the meeting by recognizing teacher Mark Gravelle for securing a $1,000 grant for store credit at Holker’s Do It Best Lumber from the Minnesota Builders Association and the Builders Group for the carpentry program.

   Ruyak also acknowledge gifts and donations received from Fraternal Order of Eagles, in the amount of $200 for special education to purchase Exacto paper cutters; $2,500  for the trap club from Eagle Country Snowmobile and ATV Club; $250 for girls basketball and $250 for boys basketball from Hill City Thrift Shop to purchase food for road trips and robotic gear for the robotics program from Deer River School District.

   Northland Union President, Carol Procopio spoke before the board stating there is a tentative agreement the teachers have approved and requested the board approve the agreement when presented during the meeting. Later during the meeting a motion was made to approve 2023 - 2025 Master 

Agreement with Northland Remer Education Minnesota, with all members voting in favor.

   Elementary Principal/Athletic Director Janessa Green began her reports by highlighting the fourth grade class this month. The class has been researching animals for individual animal reports, learning to use protractors and having a hands-on geometry unit and studying natural disasters during language arts.

   Green also mentioned the elementary Christmas concert was held that afternoon and went very well. This year the program was live streamed for those who could not make the concert in person. There was some discussion later in the meeting regarding the time of the concert due to board members receiving calls regarding why and when it was changed from an evening performance to mid-afternoon. The majority of calls being received were from people not being able to take the time off from work to attend. Ruyak asked each board member for their opinion on what time they would like to see the concert held, with the majority of the board stating either later in the afternoon so families didn’t have to take as much time off or back to 7 p.m.

   High School Principal/Superintendent Mary Yakibchuk mentioned there are pros and cons to both times, but she would create a survey for parents to fill out with what their preference was and report back to the board with the results at the February meeting.

   During Green’s athletic director report she informed the board as of Dec. 15 the girls basketball team has a record of 5-1 and have played two games since then, while the boys basketball team’s record is 2-2. An update from the recently held Co-Op meeting was also given with the committee discussing archery, volleyball and boys basketball. Currently Hill City offers archery through their Community Education program and said students from Northland are welcome to participate. However, they would not be allowed to compete with Hill City due to the county line being a region division.

   It was reported with numbers being in the low 20’s at both schools for volleyball participation, it is difficult to have three competitive squads. A recommendation from the committee to co-op volleyball was considered later in the meeting and approved unanimously. Green also mentioned currently the recommendation from the committee is to continue to run boys basketball separately, but plan to review again during 2024-2025 with a projected co-op for 2025-2026.

   In other Board action:

   • Heard from Nancy Schulzetenberg with BergenKDV on the annual audit report stating there was one internal control issue with the lack of segregation of accounting duties. There were no other compliance findings and the audit report was accepted.

   • Heard from Lori Backlund with Arrowhead Regional Computing Consortium with information for the Truth in Taxation public meeting. No public was in attendance with questions.

   • Approved the 2023 payable 2024 Levy in the amount of $2,504,221.00.

   • Approved a Right of Way Easement with Lake Country Power.

   • Approved a resolution establishing combined polling places for 2024.

   • Approved the Non-Licensed Staff seniority list for 2023-2024.

   • Approved the purchase of Motorola readios Armer system for bus transportation communication in the amount of approximately $60,000. It was noted this is the same type of communication equipment used by law enforcement and emergency services and bus drivers would be able to reach law enforcement through these radios if needed.

   • Approved a Call for Bids for the 2023-2024 Multi-Use Court Project.

  • Approved the hire of Julian Kitchenhoff as Regular Route Bus Driver; Megan Robinson as Building Substitute, beginning Jan. 2, 2024; an additional Knowledge Bowl Coach for 2023-2024; Denise Stefan and Lori Sizenbach as co-advisors for High School Student Leadership for 2023-2024 and Stacey Wake as Assistant/JV Girls Basketball Coach, effective Nov. 20.

   • Accepted the resignation of Pat Kelehan as Cross Country Coach, effective immediately.

  • Approved allocating Fiscal year 2025 and Fiscal year 2026 tuition assistance of up to $10,000 to Fiscal year 2025 for Izabella Bishop in order to expedite completion of her Master’s program.

   • Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Northland Community Schools and retiree, Mary Wilke, effective February 1, 2024.

   • Discussion about instant alerts families are currently receiving, and that they are no longer emergencies which is what the system was meant to be used for. Yakibchuk mentioned providing a form to families at the beginning of next school year with preference of communication, more information concerning this issue will be discussed at a future meeting.

   The board has scheduled the following meetings: The re-organizational meeting, Wed., Jan. 3, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. to be held at Northland High School.

---