FAIRMONT — The Fairmont School Board on Tuesday considered approving/disapproving the district’s membership in the Minnesota State High School League for the 2021-22 school year. The board must approve renewing the membership by September 1 of each year.

A few of the services provided by the MSHSL include scholarships for Triple A winners, training for activities directors, administrative website assistance, rules training for officials and coaches, and student insurance for catastrophic injuries.

Last year’s fee was $4,624. Board Member Dan Brookens said this year he believes the membership fee will be more. He said he knows some districts were balking at the increase.

“But frankly I think all of the schools were paying too little for too long,” Brookens said.

Board member Julie Laue said she remembers there was a discussion last year about districts not wanting to pay an increase since sports and activities weren’t really happening.

Board member Mike Edman said he’s not comfortable approving it without having a cap on the membership fee, since it’s still unknown what it will be for the 2021-22 school year.

“I’m not comfortable writing them a blank check,” said Edman.

“I don’t want to do that either, but I do think it would be silly to say ‘okay we’re not going to be in tournaments this year,'” said Brookens.

The board made a motion to approve the membership pending the membership fee.

In other news, Superintendent Andy Traetow shared that all fall activities started practice this past week and several teams have already played their first game as well.

Traetow said the new teacher workshop also started on Tuesday and all teachers and staff will be back for the start of school preparations beginning next week.

In other action, the board:

— Approved rescinding Policy 906– face-covering policy. The policy will be deleted from the district’s website until when/if an updated policy is needed.

–Approved the fall coaches for the 21-22 school year.

Following the regular meeting, the board went into a work session. Traetow said that the district’s five principals met for over five hours last week, planning for the new school year.

“One of our overarching pieces for our staff is to make sure we’re supporting the adults in our building and their overall well-being because they need to be at their best for our kids to get to their best,” Traetow said.

During Monday evening’s work session, each of the building principals went over their focal points for the upcoming school year.