BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth Area School Board seemed to receive one piece of good news after another during its monthly meeting on Monday.

During her report, superintendent Mandy Fletcher said about the first few weeks of school, “all things considered it went very smoothly.”

And, she added that enrollment at BEA is up by 40 students.

“That can change,” she added. “Students can move around schools during the start of school. But I think we are still going to see a very positive increase.”

Fletcher also gave an update on all of the work done by the custodial staff over the summer, which included sidewalk repair, painting, carpet in 12 rooms and much more.

“Our awesome staff really hit it out of the park,” Fletcher said. “And we thank them.”

The principals all had positive remarks about the start of school in their reports.

“My goal was to visit classrooms during the first week,” high school principal Conan Schaffer said. “Specifically to see how the change from a four period day to a seven period day was being accepted. And it looked like things were going smoothly with the change.”

Elementary/middle school principal Dave Dressler agreed as well.

“We were very busy but everything went relatively smoothly,” Dressler said. “With taking school pictures, issuing ID badges – it all went fast.”

Superintendent Fletcher explained the new procedures for visitors who come to the schools, especially at the K-7 building.

“All visitors to the school have to sign in at the district administrative assistant desk,” Fletcher said. “And have to have a certain place to go.”

She admitted that both schools have issues with not being totally secure.

“We are having a meeting tomorrow with Genesis Classical Academy, United South Central, Blue Earth Area and county law enforcement,” she said. “To discuss each school’s emergency response procedures.”

In other business at the meeting on Monday, the BEA Board:

— Approved the Initial Levy 2025 Payable 2026 at the maximum amount allowed. The board will set the final levy amount at a meeting in December.

— Accepted a donation for the Bucc-y Bags program from Kerry Foods, plus another one from Kerry Foods for school supplies. A donation in memory of Denny Bartlett, an anonymous $25,000 donation and a $7,000 donation from the former Blue Earth Lions Club were also accepted.

— Approved a cooperative agreement with United South Central in Wells to have a co-op gymnastics team this coming winter.

— Approved personnel changes including: a contract for Vanessa Wirkus for accounts payable/accounting and Rachel Petersen for gifted and talented; leaves of absences for Kortni Pizel (maternity) and Larissa Hatfield (personal); new hires of Dalton Drake as playground supervisor and paraprofessionals Elsie Pahl, Jessica Sweet, Sara Arbeiter, Kathy Engleby, Maricela Curi and Laurie Langford; land changes for Katie Mullaly, Kelly Bleess, Trinity Seedorf and Lindsey Norman.