BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth Area School Board had several items to take care of Monday night which dealt with getting ready for back to school.

School will be back in session when the board next meets on Monday, Sept. 12.

In the relatively short, 50-minute long meeting on Monday, the board heard from the superintendent, principals and others dealing with plans for preparing for the new school year.

Some of those dealt with back to school workshops, active shooter training and a school nutrition update.

Superintendent Mandy Fletcher informed the board that there had been changes to the school lunch program since the last board meeting.

“Last month I reported that the two years of having a free breakfast and lunch program for all students had come to end, and families would have to apply for the free and reduced lunch program. However, now there is a change,” Fletcher said. “Not all families have to apply for the free and reduced lunch programs – families on Medicaid will automatically qualify.”

Also, because of a healthy balance in the school lunch fund, every student at BEA will be allowed to have one free breakfast per day, at least through the 2022-2023 school year.

BEA principals reported on the success of summer school this year, the improvements to the school buildings and grounds completed over the summer, and the plans for Bucs Bash, the back to school event that was a big hit last year.

In other business at the meeting, the BEA School Board:

— Approved a resolution for a Safe Routes to School Boost Grant, approved the Non-Certified Staff Contract and Bus Drivers Contract, as well as the elementary, middle school and high school student handbooks.

— Approved the list of miscellaneous pay rates for 2022-2023. The list includes things such as pay for athletic judges, ticket takers, substitute workers and more.

— Approved the list of fall sports coaches, with some new names on the list, such as cross country with head coach Peter Koenig and assistant Robyn Mathews, girls tennis head coach Spencer Monson, assistant coach Vern Johnson and volunteer Colby Swanson.

–Approved several personnel changes, including; resignation of Beraiah Peterson as elementary teacher; retirement of Sharla Goodrich, paraprofessional; leave of absence for Megan Sukalski and Betsy Monson; new hires of Kiana Groves – elementary teacher, Andrew Noll – 5-12 math teacher, Jessica Eckmann – middle school administrative assistant, Pamela Engelking – media center paraprofessional, and Roman Madson – media center paraprofessional.