Snoball week set for Jan. 27-31 at Frazee-Vergas School

By Robert Williams

Editor

The Frazee-Vergas School Board welcomed new member Ashley Mohn at the opening meeting of the calendar year on Monday, Jan. 13. Mohn completed the oath of office on Friday, Dec. 6.

The board also recognized outgoing board member and former Chair Thaddeus Helmers. 

Helmers filled a one-year position in 2016 and was elected for four-year terms in 2017 and 2021.

“We thank him for his dedication and leadership these past nine years,” said Acting Chairman Nathan Matejka.

Helmers was unable to attend the meeting and will be presented a plaque of appreciation at a later date.

The board held the annual election of officers with Matejka being the lone nominee for chairman. Daneele Shipman was elected Vice Chair; Tammie Nunn, Treasurer and Tyler Trieglaff as the Clerk.

Committee and representative appointments were also assigned.

Negotiation and Personnel/Certified – Shipman, Frank, Trieglaff

Negotiation and Personnel/Non-Certified/MSEA – Matejka, Shipman, Frank

Negotiation and Personnel/Non-Certified/AFSCME – Matejka, Trieglaff, George

Curriculum and Policy – Frank, Mohn

Budget and Facilities – Matejka, Trieglaff

Representative Appointments for 2025 

Becker County Children’s Initiative (BCCI) – Nunn, Mohn

Community Education – Trieglaff

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) – Nunn, Mohn

Frazee Area Action Fund (FAAF) – Shipman

Meet and Confer – Shipman, George

Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) – Matejka

Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) – Frank, Tyler

Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Plan (CACR) – Shipman, Mohn

Compensation and 

Designations

Compensation for board members remains the same as 2024 with two exceptions. A substitute for the board chair rate of $35 per meeting was raised to $50. Meeting stipends had been divided with varying pay rates depending on what type of meeting was attended. That has been changed to $85 per meeting across the board. The change is in line with surrounding schools, according to research completed by Superintendent Terry Karger.

The school board clerk (Trieglaff) was added as an authorized signator on wire transfers and other accounts.

Snoball

High School Principal Jason Smith reported on a change to this year’s Snoball week. Smith thanked organizer Dani Adams for her role in organizing this year’s Homecoming and the update made to Snoball.

“It’s going to be a blast,” said Smith.

Snoball will not be formal this year. It will consist of several competitions and the winner will be announced at the end of the week.

Each winter sport/school organization has been given the opportunity to nominate one of its members in grades 9-12th to be a Snoball candidate. Each Snoball candidate will compete for points during Snoball week through contests/activities. The following is how the candidates will earn points: Dress up day participation, scavenger hunt game, Blindfolded dodgeball with a team member/coach/advisor as their partner and a paired musical chairs competition.

Snoball week is January 27-31.

Staffing

Dan Novotny and Cassidy Pender were hired as junior high boys basketball coaches.

Reese Hanson was hired as a paraeducator.

The  board accepted the resignations of a Food Service Worker and a High School Paraeducator and approved the retirement of the school counselor.

The board passed a resolution to make recommendations for reductions in program and positions.

According to the resolution, the financial condition of the school district dictates that the school board must reduce expenditures immediately, and there has been a reduction in student enrollment. 

This reduction in expenditures and decrease in student enrollment must include discontinuance of positions and discontinuance or curtailment of programs, and a determination must be made as to which teachers’ contracts must be terminated and not renewed and which teachers may be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits in effecting discontinuance of positions.

The district is required to pass this resolution annually.

“Right now we have nothing on our radar,” said Karger. “If something was to happen and we didn’t do this we’d handcuffed ourselves, so we do this not with the intent of making a reduction but just in case something was to happen we’ve got this resolution passed.”

Robotics

The board approved the Kaotic Robotics team traveling out-of-state to compete in a large robotics competition March 26-29 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Hornet Pride

The district approved the reception of the following donations:

The Detroit Lakes Rotary donated pajamas for elementary students. 

Jane Kuntz donated $100 for the elementary activity account.

The Frazee Lions donated $2,500 for construction supplies for the high school entryway project.

Bell Bank donated $35 for the custom card donation.

Sports Co-op

The girls swimming and diving cooperative sponsorship with Hawley and Detroit Lakes was dissolved due to Hawley’s interest in leaving the co-op. The co-op between DL and Frazee remains and was approved.