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*The board appointed Fern Roberg to the board position vacated by Lowell Haagenson last month. Roberg, who previously served two terms on the board (from 1994-2001), will fill the position until the end of the term in December 2007.

*The board discussed the district's funding increase by the state legislature - which is four percent each year for the next two years - projected at a $226,000 increase for the upcoming school year. With this increase, the district still has a $17,000 deficit in the budget it passed at the end of June. When final dollar amounts are received, the budget will be revised, superintendent Todd Burlingame told the board.

An elementary school staff position had been approved by the board in April, contingent on a funding increase of at least 2.5 percent. The board acknowledged the fulfillment of this condition, and the position will be added. Budget changes to cover this will be made when the budget is revised.

*The board approved the fee schedule for the 2005-06 school year. (See box on page 2.) Changes included adding a student parking fee ($15 per quarter), increasing the all-day kindergarten fee, expanding coverage of and increasing cost for the athletic activity passes, and increasing mileage reimbursement for district workers.

Students will pay $15 per quarter or $50 per year to park, with 50 percent of the revenue going to athletic supplies and equipment and 50 percent going to the capital account for parking lot repairs. Athletic coordinator Kyle Nehowig will supervise the student parking lot.

Students in the extended kindergarten program who qualify for free meals will pay the same amount ($100 per year), while those getting reduced-price meals will pay $50 more ($250 per year) and those with regular-price meals will pay $100 more ($500 per year).

Athletic activity passes were changed to activity passes and expanded to cover admission to all athletic and fine arts events. They will now cost $5 more for students in grades K-5 ($25), $10 more for students grades 6-12 ($35), $10 more for single adults ($60), and $15 more for couples ($105).

The mileage reimbursement rate was increased 1¢ to 35¢ per mile.

*The board approved a bid by Minnesota Welding & Boiler Services of Sunburg to remove a boiler from the middle/high school and install a new one. The company had the lowest of five bids received, at $78,500, while the other bids ranged up to $126,600. The old boiler will be removed before the start of the 2005-06 school year and the new boiler will be installed without much inconvenience to staff and students, said Burlingame.

*The board approved a new acceptable use and safety policy for the Internet. The policy advocates Internet use for educational purposes and forbids illegal acts, vandalism, defamations, posting of private information, and accessing of materials inappropriate in a school environment while using the Internet. The policy also gives the school the right to filter access and to impose consequences for inappropriate use and allows parents to request the termination of a child's individual account.

*The board reviewed a proposed investment policy that designates the superintendent as the district investment officer and gives criteria for investing school district funds, including the following: safety of the district's capital as the top concern; funds available for payments as required; and a market rate of return to be earned, taking into account the risk and liquidity of each investment. A decision was tabled by the board, and the policy will be discussed at its next meeting.

*The board heard from elementary school principal and curriculum coordinator Deb Gillman concerning changes to the curriculum report and testing process made by the state legislature this year. There will no longer be basic skills tests in the eighth grade. Instead, a minimum requirement will be set for the required Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests taken by high schoolers, and students will take these exams in a different order: writing as freshman, reading as sophomores, and math as juniors.

*The board approved the following athletic assignments for the fall of the 2005-06 school year: football - Ted Nett, head coach; Kyle Nehowig, assistant coach; Tom Ludwig, ninth grade coach; Brad Nepsund, junior high coach; Brad Skoglund, junior high coach; volleyball - Dawn Knoll, head coach; Keri Hatlevig, assistant coach; Carrie Hemmesch, ninth grade coach; Julie Jimenez, junior high coach; and Jackie Spanier, junior high coach; cross country - Darrel Carstens, head coach; football cheerleading - Robin Spaeth, head coach.

Two positions in the football program (an assistant coach and a junior high coach) are still being filled, and football cheerleading is contingent upon that program's ability to support itself.

*The board changed its first meeting in August to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, due to conflicts.

*The board approved Tuesday, Aug. 16, as the date for the board's planning session when new district goals will be set. This meeting will start at 7:15 p.m.

*The board approved holding a truth in taxation hearing concerning the district's levy in the elementary media center on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., with a continuation hearing to be held if necessary on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.

*The board changed the dates for its December meetings to Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m.

*The board approved an employee assignment for Jane Stoneburner as a special education van driver in August.