Brainerd School Board: Board elects new leadership

The Brainerd School Board Monday night elected new leaders for 2017 during a reorganizational meeting.
Board member Bob Nystrom was unanimously elected as board chair, after being nominated by outgoing chair Tom Haglin. Haglin’s nomination was seconded by board member Reed Campbell and no other nominations were made.
Nystrom had previously served as chair in 2004, he said, and he was honored to serve again as chair. In 2016, Nystrom served as vice chair.
“It’s been awhile, but I’m looking forward to it,” Nystrom said.
Board member Chris Robinson was unanimously elected as vice chair, after being nominated by Campbell. Campbell’s nomination was seconded by board member Ruth Nelson and no other nominations were made. In 2016, Robinson served as clerk/treasurer.
Campbell was unanimously elected as clerk/treasurer, after being nominated by Nelson. Nelson’s nomination was seconded by Robinson and no other nominations were made.
At the beginning of the meeting, Superintendent Laine Larson led all the board members through a recitation of the Minnesota School Board Association oath of office. She said it was her understanding the board members had not previously recited the oath of office. Board members Sue Kern, Bob Nystrom and Reed Campbell won re-election in the November general election.
The reorganizational meeting was held a half-hour prior to the board’s regular monthly meeting.
In other business, the board:
Designated Bremer Bank as the primary depository for 2017, with the following financial institutions as other depositories: Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Brainerd Savings and Loan, Frandsen Bank & Trust, Blackridge Bank, MidMinnesota Federal Credit Union, American National Bank, RiverWood Bank, Unity Bank, Deerwood Bank, the Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund and financial institutions identified through Minnesota Trust and Ehlers Investment Partners.
Adopted a resolution approving the Brainerd Dispatch as the district’s official newspaper for legal postings for 2017.
Adopted a resolution approving Pemberton Law Firm and Mike Rengel, primary counsel, as the district’s official legal representation for 2017.
Set school board member salaries at $4,200 per year plus an insurance package offering. The board member wage has not changed since 1986-87.
Authorized the director of business services to approve and confirm grants.
Authorized the director of business services to execute contracts and work agreements under $10,000.
Set the regular meeting times and dates for board meetings for 2017. Typically, the board meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. The March board meeting was moved to March 20, as March 13 falls during the district’s spring break.
Established standing committees for the 2017 calendar year, which include facilities, legislative, curriculum & student activities, long-range planning, finance/insurance and personnel.