Kittson Central Board Meeting Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Kittson Central Board Meeting
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 8:00 PM Central
Boardroom
444 N. Ash Ave
Hallock, MN 56728
Mark Johnson: Present
Crisa Mortenson: Present
Andrew Muir: Present
Mike Olsonawski: Present
Amanda Pinnock: Present
Eric Ristad: Present
Molly Sobolik: Present
Present: 7.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Also present are Theresia Gillie, Robert Carr, Jami Carr, Tori Younggren, Kyle Spenst, Dave Thompson, Bailey Peterson, Kallie Peterson, Kari Jo Jensen, Janet Swenson, Mark Christenson, Sonja Klein, Kristen Anderson, Anna Jauhola, Margie Holmgren and Stephanie Hanson
2. Reflection
Crisa Mortenson stated how happy she was to have the caring and student-driven staff that we have. She wanted to thank them for all their work over the years.
3. Approval of Agenda
Administration recommends a motion to approve the agenda as presented. This motion, made by Mike Olsonawski and seconded by Crisa Mortenson, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
4. Approval of Minutes
Administration recommends a motion to approve the minutes. This motion, made by Andrew Muir and seconded by Mike Olsonawski, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
Administration recommends a motion to approve the financial reports and bills as presented.
This motion, made by Andrew Muir and seconded by Mike Olsonawski, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda
Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
5. Approval of Financial Reports
motion to approve. This motion, made by Mark Johnson and seconded by Crisa Mortenson, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
The bills having been audited and found correct were ordered to be paid. Non-payroll checks of $102,012.00. Activity Fund Balance of $132,164.41. Payroll Electronic Fund Transfers/misc. Wires in the amount of $321,422.08, Payroll Checks in the amount of $2,492.30.
End of the month balances:
01 $2,567,603.99
02 $12,705.20
04 $52,355.83
06 $105,574.55
07 $257,324.59
08 $51,925.56
21 $132,164.41
Total $3,179,654.13
6. Communications Reports
6.1. Superintendent Report
Superintendent Johnson talked about the cashless option for the school and how it would not work at this time with concessions. School starts next week. There will be a work session meeting next week to talk about the roof on the arena. A big thank you to the staff on getting the new teacher, Heidi Pura’s, apartment all set up for her. It is furnished and ready to go. The mentor program has had a couple very productive meetings. The new behavior system and new guided study hall will be great for the upcoming school year. We have five new staff members this year. The new cell phone policy will implement pockets in the old small computer lab. There will be a second chance breakfast for grades 7-12 at 10am every morning. He is still working on the locker room floors, as they haven’t gotten those done yet.
6.2. Principal/Activities Director Report
Mrs. Carr talked about having lots of training for the new student system, JMC. There will be an in-person trainer coming in on Monday to work with the staff. The new choir teacher will be getting some workshop time as soon as she arrives. Open house is on Wednesday and it should be a busy night. The portrait of a graduate committee met and created a word collage of what a graduate should be. There are large numbers for football this year and good volleyball numbers also.
7. Old Business
8. New Business
8.1. Delete Policy
Administration recommends a motion to rescind policy 624. This motion, made by Amanda Pinnock and seconded by Andrew Muir, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea,Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.2. Bids for Snow Removal
Administration is looking for a motion to direct the superintendent to call for bids for snow removal for the winter of 2025-2026. This motion, made by Mark Johnson and seconded by Molly Sobolik, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.3. Hire Paraprofessional
A recommendation to hire Ashley Anderson as a paraprofessional. This motion, made by Andrew Muir and seconded by Amanda Pinnock, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.4. Hire Kitchen Position
A recommendation to hire Emma Johnson as a kitchen assistant. This motion, made by Mark Johnson and seconded by Crisa Mortenson, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.5. Amend Policy 206
Administration recommends a motion to substitute the word “encouraged” in Policy 206 VI A to “required.”. This motion, made by Crisa Mortenson and seconded by Molly Sobolik, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.6. Sports Cooperative Salaries
Administration recommends a motion approving a 2% pay increase for the 2025-2026 sports cooperative salaries. This motion, made by Crisa Mortenson and seconded by Mike Olsonawski, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Abstain (With Conflict), Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Abstain (With Conflict): 1
8.7. Truth in Taxation Date
Administration recommends a motion to hold the annual Truth in Taxation Meeting on Dec. 17 during the regular board meeting. This motion, made by Mike Olsonawski and seconded by Crisa Mortenson, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.8. E-Learning Plan
Administration recommends a motion to approve the E Learning Plan as presented. This motion, made by Andrew Muir and seconded by Molly Sobolik, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.9. North Border Tuition Agreement
Administration recommends a motion to continue with the current tuition agreement with North Border Schools. This motion, made by Mark Johnson and seconded by Crisa Mortenson, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.10. Drayton Tuition Agreement
Administration recommends a motion to continue with the current tuition agreement with Drayton. This motion, made by Andrew Muir and seconded by Molly Sobolik, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.11. Driver’s Training Fees
Administration recommends a motion to raise the driver’s education fees to ____ . This motion, made by Mark Johnson and seconded by Mike Olsonawski, Tabled.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
The motion was tabled to look into what more of the area schools are charging.
9. Adjournment – Next meeting is September 24.
Administration recommends adjourning the meeting. This motion, made by Mark Johnson and seconded by Andrew Muir, Carried.
Mark Johnson: Yea, Crisa Mortenson: Yea, Andrew Muir: Yea, Mike Olsonawski: Yea, Amanda Pinnock: Yea, Eric Ristad: Yea, Molly Sobolik: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
The meeting was adjourned at 8:26PM.
Stephanie Hanson
Recording Clerk
(October 1, 2025)
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