The Crookston School Board met Monday evening in the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.
SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION –
The school board held a closed Superintendent evaluation meeting at 4:00 p.m. School Board Chair Frank Fee said the board had high marks for Superintendent Randy Bergquist in his first review. The board has four goals for Bergquist, and they are Leadership and Effective Management of School Finances, Student Achievement, Provides Timely Communication to the School Board, and Continued Efforts to Retain and Grow Enrollment. “Doctor Bergquist had 21 of 24 total points that were distinguished or accomplished, the top two in the rating system,” said Fee. “He had no unsatisfactory ratings, and the board was very happy with his communication with the community and staff. He has been around and he is at events in the community. We like what we have.”
FEATURE PRESENTATION –
The feature presentation was by the Crookston High School Knowledge Bowl senior high team. They took on the Crookston School Board and Superintendent Randy Bergquist, who split into two teams. Knowledge Bowl Coach Mrs. Stegman read the questions, and the teams had to buzz in to answer the questions. After 15 questions, the team of Frank Fee, Mike Theis, and Tim Dufault won the contest with four correct answers. The team of Superintendent Bergquist, Marcia Meine, and Dave Davidson, along with the Pirate Knowledge Bowl team, each had three correct answers. (Pictures from the contest are at the bottom of this page)
2026 EUROPE TRIP APPROVED
Crookston High School Teacher Shelly Thomforde asked the board to approve a Europe trip in the Summer of 2026 that would be for this year’s freshmen and sophomores. The trip would be through EF Educational Tours, and they would visit France, Germany, and the Alps over 11 days. The cost of the trip would be about $5,899 per student. Students will fundraise to cover the trip costs, and no school district funds will be used for the trip. “It is a lot of work and I appreciate Mrs. Thomforde for doing this,” said Superintendent Randy Bergquist. “I think it is a great experience for the kids and will have so many great memories for our students.”
HIGHLAND SCHOOL PLAYGROUND DISCUSSION
The Crookston School District is looking at building a new all-inclusive playground at Highland School that would allow all students to use the playground, including students with disabilities. The estimated cost for a new playground is in the ballpark of $400,000. “I wholeheartedly support a playground that will be accessible for all of our students. Not just certain students, but all students,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “We are working with an entity in town to work on some grants to help look at offset the cost and we are working with three different companies to make sure we get the best bang for our buck.”
FIRST READING OF POLICY CHANGES
The board was looking to have the first reading of six policies with minor changes as recommended by the Minnesota School Board Association.
The board pulled Policy 522 (Title IX Sex Discrimination Policy) and voted to read and adopt the change. The other policies (413-Harassment and Violence, 416-Drug, Alcohol, and Cannabis testing; Policy 506-Student Discipline; Policy 507-Corporal Punishment and Prone Restraining; and Policy 515-Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records) were read and approved for the first reading. “We decided to do Policy 522. It is outdated probably by about four years or so, and there have been a lot of things that have happened legislatively in the last couple of years,” said Superintend Bergquist. “We pulled it and had one reading and adopted it, so we are in compliance and following all the procedures and policy established by the State of Minnesota.”
MOVING MAY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
The school board meeting in May was scheduled to be on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, and the board elected to move the meeting a week earlier on Monday, May 20, at 5:00 p.m. in the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.
DONATIONS
The board approved the acceptance of $4,500 in donations. The donations were –
$2,000 from Halstad Telephone Company for scholarship.s
$1,000 from the Pirate Boosters for Pirate Dance Team music licensing
$500 from Eldred Farmer’s Elevator for the Crookston FFA
$500 from the Noon Day Lions Club for Middle School Field Trips
$500 from the Matron’s Club for Highland School winter clothing supplies
PERSONNEL ITEMS
The board approved the employment of Serena Duquette as a paraprofessional and student success coordinator, Michelle Horn as a paraprofessional at the high school, Marcel Vaudrin as a mechanic/bus driver, and Jennifer Ehlen-Leitner as a special ed instructor.
The board approved the resignations of Rachel Hurner as an elementary teacher at Highland, Marisa Arriaga as a paraprofessional at Highland, Markarita Bixby as a kitchen helper at the high school, and the resignation of Girls Hockey coaches Emily Meyer, Stacy Olson, and Amanda lien.
The board tabled a five-year leave of absence request from teacher Jayne Nesvig. The board wants more information before making a decision at the next meeting.
SPRING COACHES LIST APPROVED
The board approved the Crookston Pirate Spring Activities coaching list. The list of coaches is as follows:
Boys Tennis –
Head Coach – Shelly Thomforde
Assistant Coach – Lon Boike
Softball –
Head Coach – Sunny Bowman
Assistant Coach – Melissa Parkin
Junior High – TBD
Baseball –
Head Coach – Ben Parkin
Assistant Coach – Jason Cassavant, Cesar Espinosa
Junior High Coaches – Dan Halland, Jeremy Lubinski
Boys Track –
Head Coach – Austin O’Hare
Assistant Coaches – Brett Brenden, Reilly Stroot
Girls Track –
Head Coach – Amy Boll
Assistant Coaches – Sutton Junkermeier, Jasmine Brennan
Boys Golf –
Head Coach – Steve Kofoed
Assistant Coach – Wyatt Ecklund, Brad Hubred
Girls Golf –
Head Coach – Jeff Perreault
Assistant Coach – Marley Melbye
Three-Act Play –
Director – Beth Carlson
Assistant – Phyllis Hagen
Clay Target – Randy Prudhomme
Envirothon – Carolyn Pavlish
