Regular School Board Meeting
Monday, September 8, 2025 7:00 PM Central
BOARDROOM
200 Highway 55 E
Maple Lake, Minnesota 55358
Natalie Anderson: Present
Kaitlyn Helmbrecht: Present
Liz Lind: Present
Scott Mavencamp: Present
Joe Paumen: Present
Jen Rasset: Present
Branson Thomas: Present
Present: 7.
1. Call meeting to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. “District #881 is Proud of”
4. (INFORMATIONAL) Recognition of visitors
Visitors:
• Mike Rowe
• Lisa Rademacher
• Amelia Gapinski
• Anna Reedy
• Dave Hanson
• Brenda Erdahl
• Mikayla Sutter
• Tanya Malwitz
5. (ACTION) Approve the agenda for the regular school board meeting held on Monday,
September 8, 2025.
Motion to approve the agenda for the regular school board meeting held on Monday, September
8, 2025. This motion, made by Branson Thomas and seconded by Scott Mavencamp, Passed.
Natalie Anderson: Yea, Kaitlyn Helmbrecht: Yea, Liz Lind: Yea, Scott Mavencamp: Yea, Joe
Paumen: Yea, Jen Rasset: Yea, Branson Thomas: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
6. (ACTION) Approve the consent agenda for the regular school board meeting held on
Monday, September 8, 2025 (See Exhibit 1 – Consent Agenda; August 11, 2025 Minutes; Board
Checks; Manual Checks; Operating Investments; OPEB Investments, Technology Bond
Investments, Monthly Donations, Payroll Contribution Checks) ROLL CALL VOTE
Motion to approve the consent agenda for the regular school board meeting held on Monday,
September 8, 2025. This motion, made by Liz Lind and seconded by Joe Paumen, Passed.
Natalie Anderson: Yea, Kaitlyn Helmbrecht: Yea, Liz Lind: Yea, Scott Mavencamp: Yea, Joe
Paumen: Yea, Jen Rasset: Yea, Branson Thomas: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
7. (INFORMATIONAL) Open Forum
8. (7:10) Unfinished Business
8.A. 2025-2026 Enrollment Updates
8.B. Board Goals 2025-2026
Motion to approve the 2025-2026 School Board Goals. This motion, made by Natalie
Anderson and seconded by Branson Thomas, Passed.
Natalie Anderson: Yea, Kaitlyn Helmbrecht: Yea, Liz Lind: Yea, Scott Mavencamp: Yea, Joe
Paumen: Yea, Jen Rasset: Yea, Branson Thomas: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
8.C. Marquee Sign Update
Motion to approve replacing the existing Marquee Sign located next to Highway 55. This
motion, made by Kaitlyn Helmbrecht and seconded by Liz Lind, Passed.
Natalie Anderson: Yea, Kaitlyn Helmbrecht: Yea, Liz Lind: Yea, Scott Mavencamp: Yea, Joe
Paumen: Yea, Jen Rasset: Yea, Branson Thomas: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
9. (7:20) New Business
9.A. Approval of the 2025 (Payable 2026) tax levy
Motion to approve the 2025 (Payable 2026) tax levy. This motion, made by Joe Paumen and
seconded by Branson Thomas, Passed.
Natalie Anderson: Yea, Kaitlyn Helmbrecht: Yea, Liz Lind: Yea, Scott Mavencamp: Yea, Joe
Paumen: Yea, Jen Rasset: Yea, Branson Thomas: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
9.B. Siemens Performance Contract
Motion to approve Siemens performance contract for the 2025-2026 school year. This motion,
made by Joe Paumen and seconded by Jen Rasset, Passed.
Natalie Anderson: Yea, Kaitlyn Helmbrecht: Yea, Liz Lind: Yea, Scott Mavencamp: Yea, Joe
Paumen: Yea, Jen Rasset: Yea, Branson Thomas: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0
9.C. September State of the School
10. (7:45) Representative Reports
10.A. District Leadership Team – Natalie Anderson
They are setting up all the new training for workshop days (PLC/Trama/AI).
10.B. ECFE/Community Education – Liz Lind
Committee did not meet.
10.C. Food Service Committee- Branson Thomas
Committee did not meet.
10.D. Meeker and Wright Special Ed Co-Op – Jen Rasset
1. Colleen Carlson was named the Director of Educational Programs.
2. Maple Lake Schools is partnering on the reading act for training’s.
10.E. Minnesota State High School League – Liz Lind
Committee did not meet.
10.F. Safe Schools Committee – Kaitlyn Helmbrecht
Committee did not meet.
10.G. Technology Committee – Branson Thomas
Committee did not meet.
10.H. Wright Technical Center – Joe Paumen
Committee did not meet.
10.I. Elementary School – Anna Reedy
• 100% attendance at Meet The Teacher Day. Off to a great start with students!
• We had our first Irish Pride Celebration on Friday. During the celebration, we
introduced our new MLE staff and our 17 new students. The Irish Pride word of
the month is Friendship. With the discontinuation of late starts, we have decided
to hold these celebrations on First Fridays (the first Friday of each month that
school is in session). Our next Irish Pride Celebration is scheduled for Friday,
Oct. 3.
• This week we are celebrating Homecoming week with lots of fun dress-up days!
• We have ten families signed up for Backpack Buddies so far, which begins this
week. We were the recipients of a generous donation from Centra Sota
Cooperative out of Buffalo to help with the Backpack Buddies program in the
amount of $2,592.86. Backpacks will go home to families every Thursday this
year, instead of Fridays.
• We also received a donation of coffee pods for our staff from an anonymous
donor yet again. We are so very grateful for the generosity of caffeine!
• 5th Graders start DARE this week with Officer Lamack. Graduation is scheduled
for Thurs., Nov. 20.
• Fastbridge testing began today. All K-6 students will test in both reading and
math, and the results help us to properly identify students for Irish Supports. Our
testing window ends Sept. 18.
• We are also busy covering bus safety, bicycle safety, and pedestrian safety. The
state of Minnesota requires all students receive this instruction before the end of
the third week of school (Sept. 18).
• A special thank you to the Irish PATHS and PTA, Minnesota National Guard,
and Star Bank who helped ensure our staff were well-nourished during the backto-
school workshop days!
• Lastly, thanks to our staff who helped tend our gardens this summer, including
designing and planting the shamrock-shaped garden on the grassy patch in the
front parking lot of the school!
10.J. High School – Dave Hansen
1. 7th Grade Orientation went well
2. First days of school went well.
a. We’re off to a great start
b. Lots of positive energy in the building
3. Fastbridge Testing in JH Math and English classes
4. Picture Day this week Thurs.
5. Homecoming is this week!
b. Activities all week… scheduled on different days than in the past
11. (7:55) Committee Reports
11.A. Activities Committee – Lind, Thomas, Mavencamp
Committee did not meet.
11.B. Building and Grounds Committee – Paumen, Helmbrecht, Mavencamp
Committee did not meet.
11.C. Confidential Staff Committee – Rasset, Anderson, Thomas
Committee did not meet.
11.D. Finance and Programs Committee – Helmbrecht, Rasset, Anderson
Committee did not meet.
11.E. Licensed Staff Committee – Helmbrecht, Anderson, Paumen
Committee did not meet.
11.F. Support Staff Committee – Anderson, Lind, Mavencamp
Committee did not meet.
11.G. Future Ready Committee — Anderson, Lind, Rasset
Committee did not meet.
12. (8:20) Set Meeting Dates
12.A. Future Ready – Date?
12.B. Licensed Staff Negotiations
13. (8:25) Other Business
13.A. Mail
13.B. Upcoming Meetings
13.B.1. Maple Lake Planning and Zoning Committee on Tuesday, September 9, at 6 p.m.
13.B.2. MSHSL Region 5A Committee Meeting on Wednesday, September 10 at 11:00
a.m.
13.C. Miscellaneous Information
14. (8:40) Adjourn
Motion to adjourn the board meeting held on September 8th, 2025, at 7:36pm. This motion,
made by Branson Thomas and seconded by Natalie Anderson, Passed.
Natalie Anderson: Yea, Kaitlyn Helmbrecht: Yea, Liz Lind: Yea, Scott Mavencamp: Yea, Joe
Paumen: Yea, Jen Rasset: Yea, Branson Thomas: Yea
Yea: 7, Nay: 0