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   The Northland School Board met Wed., Aug. 13 for their monthly meeting. Board chair Marc Ruyak opened the meeting with the approval of the consent items and highlighting the gifts and donations from the following organizations/individuals: Longville Lakes Area Chamer of Commerce - $2,000 for the wrestling program and $100 for the trap team; Kimberly Parent - $20 for the wrestling program; Nancy Stefan - $25 for the wrestling program and Mark and Patty Lange - $50 for the wrestling program. Ruyak also stated the wrestling program recently held a pulled pork fundraiser and raised just shy of $4,000.

   With school right around the corner administrators are working hard to get vacant positions filled and policies updated. High School Principal Mary Yakibchuk informed the board there are two important positions open, science teacher and high school special education teacher, but they have conducted interviews and have offers out to individuals for these positions. 

   Elementary Principal Janessa Green reported back on the leadership training some staff attended during June and the upcoming workshops staff will be attending before school begins. Both Yakibchuk and Green shared new goals for the district, with those being 100% of elementary students showing a minimum of one years growth in reading and to graduate 100% of seniors. Green stated this has always been a goal of the district, but has included a one year growth in math. It was mentioned that math is 40% reading therefore, it is felt if the focus is on reading alone that it will also be reflected in math as students will better understand the reading portion of math. 

   Business manager Lori Backlund shared she had hoped to present a revised budget during this months meeting, however not all figures are back from the State with how much the school district is going to be receiving. Also, the district has not hired all needed staff so she is unsure of what the final wages will be for the fiscal year. Backlund did share with the current figures she does have the school will be down on revenue from the State and expenditures are greater than expected. 

   Superintendent Mark Morrison shared some staffing updates in his report saying the district is very lucky to obtain an agreement with Chris McNeil as the Boiler Operator. Morrison also shared an update on the open Athletic Director position and stated the Storm Co-op committee is considering hiring Max Torgerson as Interim Athletic Director due to him currently doing the job since it was vacated. It was mentioned the hire for that would come before both school boards for approval, and with that hire Northland would need to hire an assistant to the Athletic Director to take care of any necessary items arising. Morrison did volunteer for that position if there was no interest internally. 

   In other Board action:

   • Had first readings on various policies and had the second reading and approval of other various policies.

   • Approved various agreements with organizations.

   • Approved the 2025-26 Mentor Handbook for teachers.

   • Approved Post Secondary Education Opportunies with Minnesota North College.

   • Approved the hire of the following: Stephaney Williamson as Early Childhood Special Education Teacher; Irving Vilina as Lead Custodian; Steven Haase as Custodian; Abbie Newman as AVID Program Advisor; Charles Holm as Assistant Football Coach. 

   • Approved the At-Will employment agreement for Boiler operator with Christ McNeil.

   • Accepted the resignation of Bruce Schear as Paraprofessional effective Aug. 22.

  • Learned more about Social Emotional Learning and how the school is implementing it in the classrooms.

   The board has scheduled the following meetings: the regular meeting, Wed., Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. All meetings are held at Northland High School.

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