REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 748
JUNE 16, 2025
DISTRICT SERVICE CENTER
A.1 The regular school board meeting of Independent School District 748 was called to order at 6 p.m. by Acting Chair Tricia Meling. Members present: Meling; Matt Moehrle, vice chair; Emily Larson, clerk; Chelsea Thielen, treasurer; Jen Smith, director; Scott Wenshau, director; Michael Rivard, superintendent. Members absent: None
A.2 The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
A.3 A motion was made by Larson and seconded by Smith to APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. During discussion, it was noted the Student School Board Representative was unable to attend the meeting.
Larson made a motion to amend the agenda by removing item B.3, School Board Student Representative Report. The motion was seconded by Moehrle. Motion carried unanimously.
The original motion to approve the agenda with this amendment was voted on. All in favor. Motion carried.
A.4 The Board revisited the previous nominations of Tricia Meling and Jen Smith for the position of Board Chair. Acting Board Chair Meling opened the floor for further nominations. No additional nominations were received. A vote was called.
- Votes for Smith: Larson, Smith and Wenshau
- Votes for Meling: Moehrle, Meling and Thielen
The vote resulted in a tie and the Board Chair was not elected.
A.5 There were no requests to speak at the Public Forum.
A.6 A motion was made by Thielen and seconded by Smith to APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS A.6.a-A.6.d AS PRESENTED BELOW. All in favor. Motion carried.
A.6.a Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting held on May 19, 2025
Minutes of the School Board Work Session held on June 5, 2025
A.6.b Checks in the amount of $921,470.88 as presented:
General Fund 570,135.57
Food Service Fund 74,920.10
Transportation Fund 37,413.56
Community Service Fund 8,045.25
Capital Expenditure Fund 181,107.69
Activity Accounts 18,657.87
Internal Service Fund 31,190.84
Check numbers 192619 – 192843
AP ACH History in the amount of $9,642.77 as presented:
General Fund 5,856.38
Food Service Fund 133.50
Community Service Fund 236.06
Activities Accounts 3,416.83
Check numbers 242500191 – 242500212
Receipts in the amount of $9,310,594.80 as presented:
General Fund 6,771,569.06
Food Service Fund 437,921.27
Transportation Fund 333.74
Community Service Fund 148,796.96
Capital Expenditure Fund 37,450.75
Debt Service Fund 1,859,138.62
Activity Accounts 46,073.34
Internal Service Fund 9,311.06
Receipts 53746 – 54627
Wire transfers in the amount of $2,326,121.04 as presented:
General Fund 1,283,126.51
Food Service Fund 50,768.67
Transportation Fund 20,883.34
Community Service Fund 36,978.05
Capital Expenditure Fund 12,236.95
Activity Accounts 575.72
Internal Service Fund 921,551.80
Wire transfers 202400710 – 202400765
A.6.c Accept Resignations: Hererra, Ashley, ORELC, cashier, 5/30/25
A.6.d Accept Personnel Changes: Kyle Breitkreutz, DSC Director of Technology and Safety, $127,510, change in position, 7/1/25; Nathan Conway, DSC IT Support – Benton Stearns, $5,500 renewal, 7/1/25; Robert Geisenhof, RIS assistant principal, $108,000, replacing Brittney Schoephoerster, 7/1/25; Roberta Grace, RIS SPED teacher, $67,227, MA, Step 6, replacing Jessie Mortenson, 8/25/25; Rekha Guragain, ORELC paraprofessional, $21.65 RIV, Step 4, new position, 8/25/25; Jacob Hennigs, SMS summer marching vand, $2,616 (5.35 percent) BA, Step 1, replacing Rachel Tisdale, 5/16/25; Steve Janski, DSC IT Support – Benton Stearns, $5,500, renewal, 7/1/25; Sylvia Kaare, SMS drumline, $2,807 (5.35 percent) BA, Step 4, renewal, 5/16/25; Leah Mockenhaupt, SMS marching band color guard, $1,638 (3.35 percent) BA, Step 1, replacing Joanna Richards, 5/16/25; Jenna Muehlbauer, SHS cook’s helper, $19.35/hour RIII, Step 1, replacing Ashley Preusser, 8/25/25; Ashley Preusser, SHS cook, $24.78/hour RIV, Step 4, replacing Michelle Shouse, 8/18/25; Melanie Schultz, SHS assistant dance coach, $5,134 (10.5 percent) BA, Step 1, replacing Sydney Musatov, 10/27/25; Jenna Scott, PMPS grade 2 teacher, $51,274 BA, Step 3, replacing Sadie Amundson, 8/25/25; Savannah Swenson, ORELC AM cashier, $18.48/hour RII, Step 1, replacing Ashley Preusser, 9/2/25; Luke Thorn, DSC senior IT field technician, $32.30/hour, new position, 7/1/25
A.6.e Approve 2025-2026 Minnesota School Boards Association Membership Renewal
A.6.f Approve 2025-2026 SAFF Membership Renewal
- REPORTS
B.1 Sabre Star Report:
- Assistant Director of Nutrition Services Tiffany Toren presented Carol Williamson with the June Sabre Star Award.
A motion was made by Moehrle to table B.2 on the agenda to be after B.5. Seconded by Larson. All in favor. Motion carried.
B.3 Superintendent Report:
- Sartell High School celebrated the graduation of 304 outstanding seniors.
- Rivard provided an update on recent legislative changes from the state capitol.
- The calendar committee will explore the option of starting school before Labor Day in 2026 and 2027 due to the holiday falling later in those years.
B.4 District Finance Report:
- Director of Business Joe Prom presented the district’s finance report including an overview of the 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget.
B.2 Spring Activities Report:
- Activities Director Bruce Thompson, and students from boys tennis, baseball, boys and girls golf, girls softball, boys lacrosse, boys and girls track and field, robotics and the clay target trap team presented highlights from the spring activity season.
B.5 School Board Committee Reports:
- Communication and Technology: Thielen reported 849 individuals participated in the recent community survey. Also, our district will be providing IT service to the Benton Stearns Education District.
- Finance and Personnel: Smith reported the district is fully staffed for the 2025–2026 school year in the areas of classroom teachers, paraprofessionals and special education.
- Legislative Network & SAFF: Moehrle noted Dr. Rivard gave a very good overview of the legislative updates during his Superintendent report.
- Policy: Smith reported Policy 203.1 was tabled and will be the first policy reviewed at the August committee meeting. The committee also reviewed a new policy on Nepotism in Employment, which will have its first reading at tonight’s board meeting.
- Sartell Senior Connection: Moehrle reported on upcoming events that will be held.
- Member Social Event at Sartell Community Center on Aug. 12
- Trivia is held on the third Wednesday of the month
- “Going Out to Dinner” event on July 10 at Jordie’s Trailside Cafe in Bowlus
- ACTION ITEMS
C.1 A motion was made by Smith and seconded by Larson to APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DONATIONS. The donations were read aloud by Moehrle. All in favor. Motion carried.
Donations:
Storm’n Sabres Booster Club, Sartell High School, $5,186.49, girls hockey coach buses; Township of Le Sauk, Community Education, $3,000, summer recreation sponsorship; Three Tees Golf, Sartell High School, $50, unified club track and field event; NextGrad, Sartell High School, $1,000, scholarship; Sartell-St Stephen Pre K-5 PTO, Riverview Intermediate School, $381.82, ice cream treats; Sartell-St Stephen Pre K-5 PTO, Oak Ridge Early Learning Center, $868.48, Big Truck Family Night; Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation, ISD 748, $986.85, all-staff breakfast August 2024; Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation, Sartell High School, $200, awards night sponsorship; Chick-Fil-A, Sartell High School, $1,000, golf simulator project; Sartell-St Stephen Pre K-5 PTO, Riverview Intermediate School, $2,549.81, RIS family picnic; American Red Cross, Sartell High School, $2,500, scholarship; Sartell All-Sports Booster Club, Sartell High School, $3,565, boys soccer uniforms; Sartell All-Sports Booster Club, Sartell High School, $514.79, softball visors; West Bank, Sartell High School, $500, golf simulator project; Curtis and Sara Gainsforth, Sartell High School, $200, golf simulator project
C.2 A motion was made by Moehrle and seconded by Thielen to APPROVE THE 2025-2026 PRELIMINARY BUDGET. Discussion was held. All in favor. Motion carried.
C.3 A motion was made by Moehrle and seconded by Larson to APPROVE POLICIES 417, 425 and 505. All in favor. Motion carried.
- DISCUSSION
D.1 First reading and discussion of Policies 498, 503, 506 and 512
D.2 Acting Chair Meling read a statement prepared by the school board regarding the Superintendent’s End-of-Year Evaluation.
D.3 The 3 Takeaways will include:
- Approval of the 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget
- Spring Activities Report
- Superintendent Evaluation
- UPCOMING DATES
- Regular School Board Meeting – 6 p.m. Monday, July 23
- Policy Committee – 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13
- Board Work Session – 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13
- Regular School Board Meeting – 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18
- ADJOURNMENT
A motion to ADJOURN THE MEETING at 7:18 p.m. was made by Smith and seconded by Larson. All in favor. Motion carried.
/s/ Emily Larson, Clerk
Publish: Aug. 1, 2025