BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth Area School Board had a relatively short board meeting on Monday but in the 41 minutes the meeting took, they went over a lot of business.

The one district report was given by Community Engagement and Workforce coordinator Brenda Millmann.

She gave the board an update on her four years of being the coordinator and listed many of the activities that have been going on in her office.

Millmann also listed many of the grants that she had applied for and received for the development of the programs which her office organizes and administrates.

In total, those grants have come to over $170,000.

“Some of the grants have helped us with the BUCCY Bag weekend food program,” Millmann said. “Other grants have enabled us to purchase welding equipment with the latest technology. Some have been for help for students with mental or emotional issues and some grants were for books.”

Another grant has enabled them to purchase 75 pairs of roller skates and a trailer to be able to let other schools use them also.

During her superintendent’s report, Mandy Fletcher discussed the hiring of two behavior intervention specialists. These positions would replace the assistant principal position.

“We have one candidate who is already on staff and another who we have interviewed,” Fletcher said. She explained that this would free up the K-7 principal to concentrate on instructional programs.

Fletcher also gave an update on the referendum that will be on the Aug. 11 Primary Election ballot, as well as the fact that the filing period for the four BEA board seats would open the next day and run for two weeks.

In other business at the meeting, the BEA Board:

— Approved the Principal Master Agreement on a vote of 6-0.

— Approved ticket prices, activity fees and meal rates, etc., for 2026-2027.

— Approved membership in the Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) at a fee of $2,230 and membership with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) at a fee of $5,720.

— Accepted donations from Kwik Trip for the BUCCY Bag program and from Compeer Financial for the annual carnival.

— Approved board member reimbursement rates at the same rate as previously paid: $600 per year for chair and clerk, $75 per meeting up to half day; $175 per full day meeting.

— Approved the new hires of high school business teacher Scott Geerdes; high school English/LA teacher Gretchen Hillesheim; K7 behavior specialist Jared Armon; elementary teachers Kristine Viesselman and Madison Reedy.

School Board member Ted Armon abstained from voting.