## AGENDA ## Independent School District No. 77 ## Mankato, MN 56001 Monday, March 16, 2026 - 5:45 p.m. ## Intergovernmental Center - Minnesota River Room ## 1.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL (5:45 P.M.) ## 2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA (5:45 P.M.) ## 3.CONSENT AGENDA (5:50 P.M.) ## A.Approval of Minutes of March 2, 2026, Regular Meeting ## B.Approval of March Bills ## C.Personnel ## 4.ADJOURNMENT (5:55 P.M.) ## School Board Members for 2026 ## Shannon Sinning, Chair Phone: 507-207-4023 E-Mail: ssinni1@isd77.org ## Term Ends December 31, 2026 ## Kari Pratt, Vice Chair Phone: 507-207-4025 E-Mail: kpratt1@isd77.org ## Term Ends December 31, 2026 ## Patrick Baker, Treasurer Phone: 507-207-4028 E-Mail: pbaker1@isd77.org ## Term Ends December 31, 2026 ## Erin Roberts, Clerk Phone: 507-207-4026 E-Mail: erober1@isd77.org ## Term Ends December 31, 2028 ## Elizabeth Hanke Phone: 507-207-4030 E-Mail: ehanke1@isd77.org ## Term Ends December 31, 2028 ## Christopher Kind Phone: 507-207-4027 E-Mail: ckind1@isd77.org ## Term Ends December 31, 2028 ## Liz Ratcliff Phone: 507-207-4029 E-Mail: eratcl1@isd77.org ## Term Ends December 31, 2028 ## Paul Peterson, Superintendent ## 10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 2 ## Mankato, MN 56001 Phone: 387-1868 E-Mail: ppeter1@isd77.org ## School Board Regular Meeting ## 3. A. ## Meeting Date:03/16/2026 ## Prepared By:Paul Peterson, Superintendent ## Subject: ## Approval of Minutes of March 2, 2026, Regular Meeting ## Background: See attachment. ## Recommended Action: Recommend approval of the minutes and proceedings as attached. ## Attachments Minutes - March 2, 2026 ## SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES ## INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 77 ## Mankato, Minnesota March 2, 2026 The School Board of Independent School District No. 77 met in regular session on Monday, March 2, in the Mankato Room at the Intergovernmental Center. Chair Sinning called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Members present at roll call: Patrick Baker, Elizabeth Hanke, Christopher Kind, Kari Pratt, and Shannon Sinning. Members absent: Liz Ratcliff and Erin Roberts (arrived 5:35 p.m.). Mrs. Pratt made a motion, and Mr. Kind seconded, approval of the agenda together with a Personnel Addendum. The motion carried on a 5-0 voice vote. MAPS Student Spotlight - Charis Perrizo - Dakota Meadows Middle School MAPS Staff Spotlight - Cheryl Menke - West High School Public Comment : No one wished to speak. Information Reports : Annual School District Radon Report presented by Scott Kaminski, ## Talent Development presented by Bobbie Jo Bastian, and Board Member Workshop/Committee/Student Reports. The consent agenda items outlined below were approved on a motion by Mr. Kind, seconded by Mr. Baker, and carried on a 6-0 roll call vote. Approval of Minutes of the February 17, 2026, regular Board meeting. Personnel : ## APPOINTMENTS (INSTRUCTIONAL) Kim Hermer - Work-Based Learning Teacher at East High School for 0.167 FTE beginning January 21, 2026, for the 2nd semester of the 2025-26 school year. She will be placed at step 10 of the B+30 lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule. Dylan Kennedy - Long-term Substitute Teacher at Hoover Elementary School beginning March 10, and ending May 26, 2026. He will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule. Charles Reilly - Full-time (1.00 FTE) Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Interventionist at Prairie Winds Middle School beginning February 25, 2026. He will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule. ## Minutes of March 2, 2026, School Board Meeting The following will be teachers in the Central High night school Program for 2.5 hours per day/2 nights per week (T/TH) beginning March 3 and ending April 21, 2026. They will be compensated according to their placement on the Teachers Association salary schedule. Frederick Berg, Zachary Blasing, Emma Brunton, Jeremy Burger, David Burgess, Heather Fitzsimmons, Heather Gilman, Russell Groebner, Jeffery Helget, Laura Januschka, Crystal Kay, Amanda Kline, Jessica Larsen, TerRon Lee, Christina Makela, Aaron Miller, Sherry Miller, Rebecca Sellers, Michael Sipe, Daniel Toegel, Kristin Van Otterloo, Amber Waibel, Matthew Weichert, ## Anna Wirth, Christopher Wollmuth ## APPOINTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL) Antonio Davis - Second Cook at East High School for 8 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 2, 2026. He will be placed at classification A13, step 6, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. Melissa Fowler - 8-hour, 12-month, Floating Evening Custodian with the District beginning February 23, 2026. She will be placed at classification A13, step 3, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. Duy Linh Nguyen - ABE Teaching Assistant with the Adult Basic Education Program at Lincoln Community Center for 2 hours per day/2 days per week (T/TH), 3.25 hours per day/1 day per week (W), and 2.75 hours per day/1 day per week (F) beginning March 25 and ending May 13, 2026. This is in addition to his ABE Teaching Assistant Substitute assignment. Ava Schneider - ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute on an on-call basis beginning February 23, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour. Isaac Wadd - ACES Site Lead Substitute at Rosa Parks Elementary School on an on-call basis beginning March 2 and ending March 13, 2026. He will be compensated at the rate of $19.25 per hour. ## CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (INSTRUCTIONAL) Hanno Botha - Change in assignment from Elementary School Counselor at Monroe Elementary School to Youth Mental Health Navigator with the District beginning August 31, 2026. Erika Schenk - Increase in assignment as Agriculture Teacher at East High and West High Schools from 1.00 FTE to 1.083 FTE for the 2nd semester of the 2025-26 school year. ## CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL) Kennedy Macke - Decrease in assignment as Special Education Paraeducator at East High School from 5.25 hours per day/5 days per week to 4.75 hours per day/5 days per week beginning January 12, 2026. Maryam Mahamud - Voluntary decrease in assignment as ABE Teaching Assistant with the Adult Basic Education Program at Lincoln Community Center from 1.75 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) to 1 hour per day/4 days per week (M–TH) beginning February 23, 2026. This is in addition to her Home School Liaison assignment with the Adult Basic Education Program and Paraeducator Substitute assignment at MAPS Center for Learning. ## Minutes of March 2, 2026, School Board Meeting Maryam Mahamud - Increase in assignment as Home School Liaison with the Adult Basic Education Program from 2.5 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) to 3.5 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) beginning February 23, 2026. This is in addition to her ABE Teaching Assistant assignment with the Adult Basic Education Program and Paraeducator Substitute assignment at MAPS Center for Learning. Ann Vose - Voluntary decrease in assignment as Student Success Coach at Eagle Lake Elementary from 6.25 hours per day/5 days per week to 4 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 9, 2026. ## RESIGNATIONS (INSTRUCTIONAL) Deanna Hofmeister - ECFE Teacher at MAPS Center for Learning, has submitted a resignation for the purpose of retirement. The last day of employment will be May 22, 2026. She will continue as a Substitute Teacher at MAPS Center for Learning. Shelby Homan - Rescind acceptance as Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Interventionist at MAPS Center for Learning. Kristen Toner - Developmental Adapted Physical Education Teacher with the District, has submitted a resignation for the purpose of retirement. The last day of employment will be May 27, 2026. ## RESIGNATIONS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL) Elsa Gonzalez - ACES Child Care Assistant at Franklin Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be March 5, 2026. Kierra Henderson - ACES Child Care Assistant at Kennedy Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be February 11, 2026. Grace Olson - ACES Child Care Assistant at Rosa Parks Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be February 16, 2026. Charles Reilly - Special Education Paraeducator at Prairie Winds Middle School, has submitted a resignation in order to accept the teaching position. The last day for this assignment will be February 24, 2026. Maximus Sims - Non-classroom Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day for this assignment will be February 6, 2026. He will continue as a Paraeducator Substitute. This is in addition to his ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute assignment. Zachary Stackurski - Student Success Coach at Roosevelt Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be February 27, 2026. Ann Vose - Student Success Coach at Eagle Lake Elementary School, has submitted a resignation for the purpose of retirement. The last day of employment will be May 18, 2026. ## Minutes of March 2, 2026, School Board Meeting Quincy Zarn - 8-hour Evening Custodian at Hoover Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be February 24, 2026. ## Addendum ## APPOINTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL) Donna Cain-Eichers - Health & Wellness Paraeducator at Dakota Meadows Middle School for 6.75 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 2, 2026. She will be placed at classification B22.5, step 4, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. Addisyn Heller - Student Associate Worker at Central High School for 1 hour per day/5 days per week beginning March 3, and ending May 19, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $11.41 per hour. This is in addition to her ACES Child Care Assistant assignment at Monroe Elementary School. Alexa Johnson - Health & Wellness Paraeducator at West High School for 6.75 hours per day/4 days per week (M/T/W/F) and 4.5 hours per day/1 day per week (TH) beginning February 26, 2026. She will be placed at classification B22.5, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. Noah Konz- Special Education Paraeducator at Roosevelt Elementary School for 4 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 3, 2026. He will be placed at classification B22, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. Amanda M Kozitza - Special Education Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School for 3.25 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 2, 2026. She will be placed at classification B22, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. This is in addition to her Non-classroom Paraeducator assignment at Rosa Parks Elementary School. Lauryn Mueske - Special Education Paraeducator at Eagle Lake Elementary School for 6.25 hours per day/2 days per week (T/TH) and 3.25 hours per day/1 day per week (F) beginning February 26, 2026. She will be placed at classification B22, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. This is in addition to her ACES Child Care Assistant assignment at Eagle Lake Elementary School. Faith Quartey Papafio - ACES Child Care Assistant at Kennedy Elementary School for 3-4 hours per day/3 days per week beginning February 16, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour. ## CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (INSTRUCTIONAL) Brooklyn Garvey - Increase hourly rate to $15.25 as ACES Child Care Assistant at Bridges Community School beginning March 16, 2026. Sophie Lies - Increase hourly rate to $15.25 as ACES Child Care Assistant at Washington Elementary School beginning March 1, 2026. ## Minutes of March 2, 2026, School Board Meeting Jane Phares - Change in assignment from ACES Child Care Associate Substitute to ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute on an on-call basis beginning March 4, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour. ## RESIGNATIONS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL) Vicki Nessler - Health Assistant at Jefferson Elementary School, has submitted a resignation for the purpose of retirement. The last day of employment will be May 19, 2026. Sophie Thomas - ACES Child Care Assistant at Monroe Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be March 11, 2026. Approval of Extended Trip - Lancer Trip 2027 . There being no further business to consider, Mrs. Pratt moved and Mr. Baker seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. The meeting was declared adjourned at 6:30 p.m., on a 6-0 voice vote. ## Clerk ## Attest: ## Chairperson ## Minutes of March 2, 2026, School Board Meeting ## SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS ## INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 77 ## Mankato, Minnesota The School Board of Independent School District No. 77 met in regular session on Monday, March 2, in the Mankato Room at the Intergovernmental Center. Chair Sinning called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Members present at roll call: Patrick Baker, Elizabeth Hanke, Christopher Kind, Kari Pratt, and Shannon Sinning. Members absent: Liz Ratcliff and Erin Roberts (arrived 5:35 p.m.). 1. Pratt/Kind approval of agenda with personnel addendum. 5-0 ## 2. MAPS Student Spotlight - Charis Perrizo ## 3. MAPS Staff Spotlight - Cheryl Menke 4. Public Comment –No one wished to speak. 5. Information: Annual School District Radon Report; Talent Development; & Board Member/Student Reports. 6. Kind/Baker approval of Consent Agenda Items: Approval of Minutes of the February 17, 2026, regular meeting; Personnel; Approval of Extended Trip - Lancer Trip 2027. 6-0 7. Pratt/Baker adjournment at 6:30 p.m. 6-0 ## Independent School District No. 77 ## Mankato, Minnesota ## By: Erin Roberts The complete minutes and all documents relating to this meeting are on file and available for review in the Superintendent’s Office, 10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 2 and on-line at www.isd77.org . ## Minutes of March 2, 2026, School Board Meeting ## School Board Regular Meeting ## 3. B. ## Meeting Date:03/16/2026 ## Prepared By:Amanda Heilman, Director of Business Services ## Subject: ## Approval of March Bills ## Background: At our meeting on Monday evening, the administrative team will be prepared to answer any questions you might have regarding the report on claims and accounts for March. The total of the bills for March of 202 6 is $8,906,586.07. ## Recommended Action: The claims are recommended for payment as presented. ## School Board Regular Meeting ## 3. C. ## Meeting Date:03/16/2026 ## Prepared By:John Lustig, Director of Administrative Services ## Subject: ## Personnel ## Background: ## APPOINTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL) ## Sage Berry - ACES Child Care Assistant at Roosevelt Elementary School for 1.5 hours per day/2 days per week beginning March 9, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour. Abigail Carlson - ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute on an on-call basis beginning March 9, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour. ## Nickole Duvernay - Special Education Paraeducator at Prairie Winds Middle School for 3.75 hours per day/3 days per week (M/W/F) and 6.75 hours per day/1 day per week (T) beginning March 16, 2026. She will be placed at classification B22, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. Madeline Kempenich - ACES Site Lead Substitute on an on-call basis beginning March 2, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $18.75 per hour. This is in addition to her ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute assignment. Ty Kleinschmidt - Student Success Coach at Hoover Elementary School for 2 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 9, and ending May 21, 2026. He will be placed at classification B22, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. ## Noura Kurdi - Special Education Paraeducator at Kennedy Elementary School for 2.5 hours per day/4 days per week (M-TH) and 5.75 hours per day/1 day per week (F) beginning March 9, 2026. She will be placed at classification B22, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. This is in addition to her ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute assignment. Elizabeth Lewis - ACES Site Lead Substitute on an on-call basis beginning March 2, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $18.75 per hour. This is in addition to her Reading Intervention Teacher ## assignment at Franklin Elementary School, ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute, and Substitute Teacher assignments. Klara Lybeck - ACES Site Lead Substitute on an on-call basis beginning March 2, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $18.75 per hour. This is in addition to her ACES Student Support Assistant Substitute assignment. Samantha Prybylla - Early Learning Special Education Paraeducator at MAPS Center for Learning for 6.5 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 3, 2026. She will be placed at classification B22, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. Amber Reuter - ACES Site Lead Substitute on an on-call basis beginning March 2, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $18.75 per hour. This is in addition to her ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute assignment. Julia Roering - ACES Site Lead Substitute on an on-call basis beginning March 2, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $18.75 per hour. This is in addition to her ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute assignment. Julie Schwamberger - Second Cook at Eagle Lake Elementary School for 7 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 9, 2026. She will be placed at classification A13, step 1, in accordance with the agreement between the District and the Minnesota School Employee Association. ## CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (INSTRUCTIONAL) ## Joyce Petersen - Temporary increase in assignment as Title 1 Intervention Teacher at Rosa Parks Elementary School from 0.80 FTE to 1.00 FTE beginning March 9, and ending May 20, 2026. ## CONTRACT ADJUSTMENTS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL) Shazia Alam - Increase in assignment as Cook Helper at East High School from 6.5 hours per day/5 days a week to 8 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 16, 2026. Elizabeth Castanon - Voluntary decrease in assignment as Cook Helper at East High School from 8 hours per day/5 days per week to 6.5 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 16, 2026. Debora Donahue - Increase hourly rate to $18.41 as ABE Teaching Assistant with the Adult Basic Education Program at Lincoln Community Center beginning July 1, 2025. ## Aabry Kennedy Casanova - Change in assignment from ABE Student Worker to Community Education ## Site Operations and Safety Associate at Lincoln Community Center and MAPS Center for Learning on an as needed basis beginning March 4, 2026. She will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per hour. ## Amanda M Kozitza - Increase in assignment as Special Education Paraeducator at Rosa Parks Elementary School from 3.25 hours per day/5 days per week to 4.83 hours per day/5 days per week beginning March 3, 2026. This is in addition to her Non-classroom Paraeducator assignment at Rosa Parks Elementary School. ## Clarissa McKeown - Change in assignment from ACES Child Care Assistant at Bridges Community School to ACES Child Care Assistant Substitute on an on-call basis beginning March 16, 2026. ## Maryam Mohamud - Voluntary Decrease in assignment as Special Education Paraeducator at Kennedy Elementary School from 6.25 hours per day/5 days per week to 6.25 hours per day/4 days per week (M/W/TH/F) beginning March 10, 2026. Hiroko Wollam - Increase hourly rate to $18.41 as ABE Teaching Assistant with the Adult Basic Education Program at Lincoln Community Center beginning July 1, 2025. ## RESIGNATIONS (INSTRUCTIONAL) ## Mahamed Hassan - Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Interventionist at Dakota Meadows Middle School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be March 10, 2026. ## Abbey Riese - School Psychologist at Rosa Parks Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be May 26, 2026. ## RESIGNATIONS (NON-INSTRUCTIONAL) ## Pamela Allen - Infant Care Provider with the TAPP Daycare at Central High School and ACES Student Support Assistant Substitute, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be May 22, 2026. ## Mackenzie Bosch - Early Learning Classroom Aide and Early Learning Special Education Paraeducator at MAPS Center for Learning, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be May 18, 2026. Skylar Frolke - Health & Wellness Paraeducator at SUN, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be May 18, 2026. ## Isaac Wadd - ACES Site Lead Substitute at Rosa Parks Elementary School, has submitted a resignation. The last day of employment will be March 13, 2026. ## Recommended Action: The Administration recommends the approval of the personnel items.