FAIRMONT– At the Fairmont School Board meeting on Tuesday evening, Superintendent Andy Traetow spoke about the recent announcement that the Big South Conference is expanding next school year to 15 teams by adding Belle Plaine.

“The Big South Conference is currently in the process of exploring a potential invitation for a 16th member and at that point we would end those pursuits of continuing expansions,” Traetow said.

He said that Fairmont is currently in the middle in terms of enrollment and explained that the Minnesota State High School League uses enrollment in grades 10 through 12 as the determining factor when it redistricts.

Board Member Julie Laue said that she’s been asked some questions about the addition of Belle Plaine.

“Some of the concerns I’ve heard are about week day games and students traveling. Are we looking at a time adjustment for some of those games because of the distance or are we looking at scheduling those on weekend times rather than weekday times?” Laue asked.

Traetow said that the scheduling piece has mostly been discussed by activities directors and that he hasn’t asked Fairmont’s AD, Mat Mahoney, those specific questions.

“We’ve previously had Marshall, Pipestone, Luverne on the far west end of our conference… so we’ve already had some of those challenges,” Traetow said.

Laue said that the questions about times of games are being raised by some parents. Traetow said that for those in younger grades, games are traditionally scheduled earlier.

“Then you’re cutting into the school day. If the game starts at 4:30 in Belle Plaine, the school day is affected as well,” Laue said.

Traetow acknowledged that it’s not a perfect schedule, which Laue said she understood, but that she wanted parents to know that their concerns were being considered.

Board Member Dan Brookens said, “I think it will be pretty flexible. I don’t think we’ll have kids getting home at 11:30 on a Tuesday night. Any issues the activities directors are pretty cognizant of. These schools wanted to be part of the Big South Conference because they feel like it’s a good fit for them academically, competitively and that they feel that there are going to be better programs by competing against us and the people we compete against already, too.”

During his report to the board Traetow also touched on the current student enrollment and said that the district is at 1,746 in grades kindergarten though 12th grade, which is 25 more than where they started the school year last year and 16 more than where they ended last school year at.

Fairmont Community Education and Recreation Director, Stephanie Busiahn, also provided a recap of summer programming.

“We had a great summer. We offered over 85 adult and youth offerings this summer. We had almost 1,400 participants in those 85 offerings,” Busiahn said.

She said that over 30 volunteers helped with those offerings and that 15 local businesses sponsored activities like T-ball and flag football. She also spoke about CER’s two interns who helped over the summer.

“We offered laser tag, a new offering, grand prix, some new art classes, an imagination station, legend quest and street ball basketball. Those were some new things this summer,” Busiahn said.

In terms of building usage, Busiahn said that both Fairmont Elementary School and Fairmont High School were busy over the summer. In fact, she said they were used a combined 5,29.98 hours and that almost 600 were non-district related but the majority were used by district related reasons, including for CER activities.

Before approving the 2023-24 teacher seniority list, Laue said that while the board has hired a large number of new teachers in recent years, it’s important to recognize that there is a lot of experienced staff as well.

“It’s just amazing.. how much experience our staff has,” Laue said.

Board Member Nicole Green added how great it is that students have the opportunity to learn from some staff members who have their master’s degree or Ph.D.

“I think it shows a love of learning from our staff as well which then translates and hopefully our students can feel and understand and learn that love of learning for themselves,” Green said.

The board accepted the following donations:

— $10,000 from Karla Lunn for purchase of a safety speed saw/router combination machine to be used in CTE classes.

— Shop items valued at $600 from Tractor Supply for the high school maintenance shop.

— $150 from City of Lakes Garden Club for the ag program/greenhouse.

In other news:

— The board approved the Title I service contracts for St. John Vianney School, St. Paul Lutheran School and St. James Lutheran School.

— The board approved several policy revisions for student discipline, enrollment of nonresident students, overdose medication and internet acceptable use and safety.

— The board accepted the resignation of Tiah Weringer, special ed paraprofessional and the employment of Megan Jammaron and Carey Madsen as special ed paraprofessionals.

— Homecoming week will be held Sept. 25-29.

— The next school board meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 26.