Byron Public Schools — Transcript
Thursday, August 13, 2026
School Campus Management and Safety Protocols
26-27 Preliminary Budget and Financial Health
Academic Calendar and Staffing Approvals
Community and Inter-District Updates
Votes (10)
Approval of Primary Handbook for 26-27
Moved by Unknown [0:10:25] · Seconded by Unknown [0:10:28]
The primary handbook was brought forward for approval with a specific change made to align the policy on gifts for staff with other district handbooks, resolving a previous discrepancy.
Approval of 26-27 Preliminary Budget
Moved by Unknown [0:27:07] · Seconded by Unknown [0:27:10]
Sean presented the preliminary budget, highlighting a conservative enrollment projection, the addition of three teaching and five coaching positions, and a projected growth in the unassigned fund balance. There was detailed discussion on revenue and expenditure drivers, including an appeal for miscoded LTFM funds. The budget was praised for strengthening the district's financial position and demonstrating prudent stewardship.
Action on 27-28 Calendar
Moved by Unknown [0:30:54] · Seconded by Unknown [0:31:00]
The calendar for the 27-28 school year was approved, acknowledging that its finalization depended on pending legislative approval concerning school start and end dates. The Superintendent noted that a memo would accompany the calendar on the website to inform families of the conditional nature, but emphasized that core dates usually remain consistent.
Designation of Official with Authority
Moved by Unknown [0:32:41] · Seconded by Unknown [0:32:47]
This item involved formally designating Superintendent Nate Baldrook as the official empowered to manage access and permissions for district data systems and reports submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and partner co-ops.
Resolution Appointing a Responsible Authority
Moved by Unknown [0:35:05] · Seconded by Unknown [0:35:10]
The board passed a resolution appointing Superintendent Nate Walbrook as the responsible authority, granting him the power to act on behalf of the board for numerous district matters, though not all.
Resolution Appointing Responsible Contract Authority
Moved by Unknown [0:36:58] · Seconded by Unknown [0:37:00]
This resolution formally authorized Superintendent Nate Walberg to enter into legal contracts and sign off on agreements on behalf of the school district.
Action on Miscellaneous Wages 2627
Moved by Unknown [0:38:09] · Seconded by Unknown [0:38:12]
The item, which was previously discussed, was approved with additions for the school nurse and health substitute roles, along with an adjustment for inflation.
Action on Additional Coaching Positions
Moved by Unknown [0:41:43] · Seconded by Unknown [0:41:45]
The board approved adding back several coaching positions that had previously been cut to save money, with youth organizations temporarily covering costs. The decision was influenced by the elimination of junior high school cutting, which increases the need for coaches. The Superintendent expressed gratitude to the youth organizations and noted that strategic discussions would continue regarding future coaching needs.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Moved by Unknown [0:45:10] · Seconded by Unknown [0:45:14]
Questions arose regarding enrollment numbers, which showed a slight drop due to confirmed records requests for departing students. Further drops are anticipated as more records requests are received, while new inquiries are monitored for full enrollment completion.
Approval of Donations
Moved by Unknown [0:47:33] · Seconded by Unknown [0:47:36]
A list of various donations to district programs, including the food pantry, speech team, theater department, Bearpack program, community education, and a field trip reimbursement, was read and approved.
Notable Quotes (13)
When we approved all of the handbooks, there was one section from the primary handbooks about gifts for staff and then um we changed that to fall in line with what where all the other handbooks are relating to um giving gifts to employees. So that change has been made and it's reflected in this handbook.
In the interest of being conservative, I went with the lower number because I would rather have budgeted for 2236 and have 2260 show up than have budgeted for 2260, have 2236 show up.
It kinda depends, right? Um you see I It's always funny because when I'm up, people are talking about, 'Oh, what's your fund balance? What's your fund balance?' Ours was like, 'Hey, you run in smaller districts that are like 25, 35, and it's like, what are you guys doing?' Right? You know, they just don't have anything to spend money on. So, um, usually like 7 to 10 is kind of the sweet spot.
It sounds hopeful. Yeah, it definitely has the potential to cuz then we're back above the uh the board approved amount. Um I think we'd actually have to get there before it would, you know, even just having that projection I don't think is quite enough for the rating services to say, 'Yeah, you guys are good now.' Like they they want to see us actually do it.
There's a second page where I have a memo to um to anybody who is going to look at the calendar just acknowledging that this calendar is comes with a couple asterisks is and um and that uh we just are waiting for legislative approval to uh for it to be finalized.
It could be a thing that is one of the first things that goes through. Um, I'm just going to guess judging by how weird the election is going to go that probably the legislative session is going to be a little weird too. So, um, so I would not be surprised if if the school calendar thing is not 11th hour deal again. So, at worst it'll be um the end of May, beginning of June that we'll know.
And this is one of these ideas that you you designate officials with authority, um which ends up being me and I'm the one that I can grant access to these data systems and permissions for um various people across the district and also in the co-ops that we coordinate with um to submit reports uh to MDE and and gather data that sort of thing.
So again, this is this is part of the yearly run where um you're designating me to act as your, you know, responsible authority in yourstead on many items. It's not all items, but it's on many items.
Um, so this is where you're uniting me with the authority to enter into contracts and such. Um, and again acting on behalf of you all as somebody who's able to sign off on things and enter into legal contracts on behalf of the school district.
This was one that you brought last month and we were missing the school nurse in that health sub, I believe. Yes, that's right. This is just bringing it back with additions for the No, it looks like it's just a inflation raise for inflation. Yeah.
Um and so in working with um and in partnership with these youth organizations um we we as in myself and working with Chad and Sean feel it's prudent that we potentially bring a couple of these back under our umbrella um to provide um those continued services.
The amount that we should bring back I think is up to some strategic discussion over the next year or two. Um but for example in the the football program has eight paid coaches and right now before this resolution we are paying for four of them.
So, there was a couple on the act the um total enrolls that have dropped off. Um but we knew that those ones were the records request came. So, we've Okay. But then there's still some out there that um have indicated they're moving, but we have not received the records request from those other schools. So until we receive those, we don't um drop their moment.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Amended document to align gift-giving policy for staff.
Financial plan presented for the upcoming fiscal year, detailing revenues, expenditures, and fund balance projections.
Academic calendar approved with a caveat for pending legislative approval.
Designates the Superintendent to grant access to data systems and permissions for submitting reports to MDE.
Designates the Superintendent to act as responsible authority for many district items on behalf of the board.
Designates the Superintendent with the authority to enter into legal contracts on behalf of the school district.