The Crookston School Board met on Monday, April 28, in the Crookston High School choir/orchestra room.
The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the March 24 meeting and current bills.
The board approved the resignations of Brittany Rassett as the high school German instructor, Austin O’Hare as the high school science instructor, and Cierra Hangsleben as the Middle School principal. Superintendent Randy Bergquist said the three are leaving for family reasons and Hangsleben will be missed. “Cierra has been here for two years, and the community wanted a middle school concept, so Mr. Kuehn (previous Superintendent) hired her as the middle school principal. We are reevaluating to see what we will do moving forward. She and Mr. Torgerson worked well together to have a cohesive 6-12 building, but keeping them separate with different passing times,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “The community made it clear that they want the middle school concept, and I think it has been going well so far.”
The board approved the employment of Timothy Barwin as a school district mechanic/bus driver, Lily Kronas as an Agriculture Education instructor at the high school, and Holly Messelt as a special education instructor at the high school. Superintendent Bergquist said finding an Ag Education teacher was essential to continue the Ag classes, FFA, and more. “That was a huge hire. I honestly didn’t think we were going to find an Ag instructor, but she’s going to be graduating this next month from UMC, so we are really excited to have her as part of the group,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “We want to continue with our Ag classes, FFA, and do those things because this is obviously an agricultural community. I have to give the Administration credit because there are a lot of Ag teaching jobs open right now.”
The board accepted over $19,000 in donations, including $1660 from the Minnesota Masonic Lodge and another $1660 from the Crookston Masonic Lodge for the FFA program, $13,000 from the Crookston Baseball Association for softball equipment for KROX Radio Stadium, $360 from Kathie Barnes for the middle school field trips, $250 from Grove Mechanical for the Itasca State Park field trip, $1,855 from the Crookston FFA alumni for the FFA state convention, $344.46 from Polk County misc. supplies, and $240 from Loren and Marjean Sanderson for the Itasca State Park field trip. Superintendent Bergquist said the community and organizations support the School District, and he appreciates it. “I am so happy that the community and organizations are willing to donate,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “And it’s not just all athletics, there is donations for FFA, field trips, and I just want students to be able to have opportunities for things that they can enjoy.”
The main agenda had one item: designating Old National Bank as the replacement bank for Bremer Bank. Old National Bank recently bought Bremer Bank and will soon make the name change.
A school board working session will be held on Thursday, May 1, at 9:00 a.m. in the District Office room. The next school board meeting will be on Monday, May 19, at 5:00 p.m. in the Crookston High School choir/orchestra room.
