FAIRMONT – The Fairmont School Board discussed a new policy establishing a funding allocation framework for the Partners in Education (PIE) fund at its meeting on Tuesday.

Superintendent Andy Traetow said during the school’s audit process, they found that funds had been invested in 2007 under the school’s tax identification number. As a result, the fund process needed to be reviewed and changes needed to be made.

“From those on the current school board, the Partners in Education Committee, none of the current individuals, per se, did anything wrong,” Traetow said. “We just learned a new process in terms of the financials that we had to be implementing, and are grateful for the collaboration, the patience and developing understanding between the two groups, and the commitment to continue working together in service of our students and staff moving forward.”

The school district has had a long-standing partnership for decades with Fairmont Partners in Education.

“It has a lot of opportunities for students, teachers, programs throughout our district,” he said. “One of the things we looked at as a policy component is by parameters and operational managers in policy, it would take an act of a future board to redact that partnership of education.”

Traetow said the sole responsibility of the fund’s management will be transferred to the Fairmont School Board, alongside the Fairmont PIE Advisory Committee.

“The school district will invest the funds in a depository assigned and designated by the school board of education,” he said. “The district will maintain and assign the Partners in Education Fund to be used as identified and intended by the mission of Fairmont Partners in Education, that’s in collaboration with and in support of the school district. All of the annual proceeds of the invested funds will be dedicated to student enrichment and allocated by the PIE grant review process, which we’ve had in place for many years.”

This oversight change is the main thing Traetow said has changed with the implementation of this policy. At that time, it was opened up for comments, of which there were none from the board or the attendees. The policy will be voted on for approval at the next school board meeting.

Also at the meeting, the Knowledge Bowl team gave a presentation on their season. Coach Melissa Smith said they had 15 students on three teams. Each meet had around 60 to 70 schools, and Fairmont got consistent results.

“We consistently fell in the middle of the pack with our team khaki constantly placing in the top three teams,” she said. “The one meet we were in first place, and we had a blizzard, and so we had to come back.”

Ultimately, there was a chance for them to compete for a spot at state competition. Unfortunately, Smith said a majority of the teams in Knowledge Bowl are also in Math League, which had its state math qualifier at the same time. Since they were a shoo-in for a state spot, as long as they made it there, the decision was made not to go for Knowledge Bowl state qualification.

Throughout her 10 years involved in Knowledge Bowl, Smith said she loves how it brings a diverse group of students together.

“It teaches them to work as a team for a common goal,” she said.

Knowledge Bowl Participant Michelle Esquivel echoed this, saying it brought students from subjects like theater and sports together, and they all had fun.

“We eventually got to learn more and more as every single round passed by,” she said. “You even get to meet people from other districts. It was genuinely such a great time, because you got to meet so many great people.”

Even though it meant getting up at 5 a.m., putting on a suit, and sitting on a bus for 45 minutes, participant Thor Olson said Knowledge Bowl is one of the funnest things he has ever been able to do.

“Most of our participants were seniors,” he said. “They may be graduating this year, but I’m definitely 100% assuring they will not forget the experience they had, especially with all the years they had within Knowledge Bowl.”

In other news:

— A contract with the Fairmont Police Department for a School Resource Officer was approved. The contract will see the SROs salary go from $70,000 to $75,000 by the 2028-29 school year. Board Member Michael Edman said there is a 60-day cancellation notice clause, so this will be monitored to ensure it always serves the best interests of the schools and their students.

— The 2025 Fairmont Teacher of the Year, physical education teacher Chris Engelby’s retirement was approved. She will be retiring effective September 25, 2026. Traetow said this will be a well-deserved opportunity for her to engage in the next phase of her life, and he thanked her for her 36 years of service to the school district.