## AGENDA ## Independent School District No. 77 ## Mankato, MN 56001 Monday, May 4, 2026 - 5:30 p.m. ## Intergovernmental Center - Mankato Room ## 1.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL (5:30 P.M.) ## 2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA (5:30 P.M.) ## 3.MAPS STUDENT SPOTLIGHT (5:35 P.M.) ## 4.MAPS STAFF SPOTLIGHT (5:45 P.M.) ## 5.PUBLIC COMMENT (5:55 P.M.) ## 6.INFORMATION (6:05 P.M.) ## A.Coordinate Early Intervening Services (CEIS) Report ## B.Jefferson Elementary School Forest Report ## C.Language Access Plan Report ## D.Board Member Workshop/Committee/Student Reports ## 7.PUBLIC HEARING (6:55 P.M.) ## A.2017 Operating Referendum Renewal Plan ## 8.CONSENT AGENDA (7:05 P.M.) ## A.Approval of Minutes of April 20, 2026, Regular Meeting ## B.Personnel ## 9.BUSINESS (7:10 P.M.) ## A.Acceptance of Gifts and Grants ## B.Second Reading/Approval of School Board Policies ## C.Approval of Jefferson School Forest ## D.Resolution Relating to Renewal of an Expiring Referendum ## 10.ADJOURNMENT (7:30 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 ## PUBLIC COMMENT GUIDELINES The Mankato Area School Board welcomes public participation through Public Comment. Hearing from citizens is an important aspect of public service, and the School Board appreciates people sharing their views. It is important to note that School Board meetings are business meetings held in the public. They are not public meetings nor are they a public forum. They are a business meeting of the elected representatives of the school district. The Mankato Area School Board expects that the same etiquette and decorum displayed during the business meeting be present during the Public Comment. Public Comment participation is limited to those individuals who wish to speak to an item on the Board agenda. The School Board does not comment or ask questions during Public Comment. Each speaker is asked to provide his/her name and city for the record. Each speaker is allowed three (3) minutes to speak. The Board Chair will alert speakers when their time is up. Failure to stop speaking and blatantly ignore the cue, will result in an individual losing the ability to …

--- title: May 4, 2026 Minutes - Google Docs date: D:20260505141351+00'00' --- ## SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES ## INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 77 ## Mankato, Minnesota May 4, 2026 The School Board of Independent School District No. 77 met in regular session on Monday, May 4, in the Mankato Room - 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, Liz Ratcliff, Erin Roberts, and Shannon Sinning. Absent: None. Mrs. Pratt made a motion, and Mrs. Ratcliff seconded, approval of the agenda together with a Personnel Addendum. The motion carried on a 7-0 voice vote. MAPS Student Spotlight : Thilamar Them- Prairie Winds Middle School. MAPS Staff Spotlight : Brittany Ward - Washington. Public Comment : No one wished to speak. Information Reports : Coordinate Early Intervening Services (CEIS) Report presented by Samanatha Steinman; Jefferson Elementary School Forest Report presented by Melissa Brueske and Jesse Pigman; Language Access Plan Report presented by Travis Olson; Board Member Workshop/Committee/Student Reports. Public Hearing for 2017 Operating Referendum Renewal Plan. Amanda Heilman provided background information. Chair Sinning declared the public hearing open. No Citizens wished to speak and Chair Sinning closed the hearing. The consent agenda items outlined below were approved on a motion by Mrs. Ratcliff, seconded by Mr. Kind, and carried on a 7-0 roll call vote. Approval of Minutes of the April 20, 2026, regular Board meeting. Personnel : ## APPOINTMENTS (NON-AFFILIATED) Polly Olthoff - ABE Distance Learning Program Supervisor at Lincoln Community Center beginning July 1, 2026. This is a full-time, 12-month, Non-affiliated, 240-day work year position with an annual salary of $66,220.80. She will be eligible for Category III benefits. ## APPOINTMENTS (INSTRUCTIONAL) Tristin Doster - Full-time (1.00 FTE) 4th Grade Teacher at Eagle Lake Elementary School beginning August 24, 2026, training August 11, 2026. She will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule, contingent upon obtaining licensure. ## Minutes of May 4, 2026, School Board Meeting Benjamin Edwards - Full-time (1.00 FTE) Spanish Teacher at West High School beginning August 24, 2026. He will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule. Megan Geraets - Full-time (1.00 FTE) Science Teacher at West High School beginning August 24, 2026. She will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule. Jessica Harder - Full-time (1.00 FTE) Kindergarten Teacher at Franklin Elementary School beginning August 24, 2026, training August 11, 2026. She will be placed at step 1 of the B lane on the Teachers Association salary schedule, contingent upon obtaining licensure. Roisin Haslam - Full-time (1.00 FTE) 3rd Grade Teacher at Monroe Elementary School beginning August 24, 202…