BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth Area School Board held a couple of meetings and a public hearing which were all part of its regular meeting on Monday.

It started with a special board meeting that began at 5:30 p.m. and immediately went into closed session. The board conducted a mid-year evaluation of superintendent Mandy Fletcher during the closed session.

When the board reconvened in open session after 6 p.m., it held the annual Truth in Taxation public hearing.

Only one member of the public was present and that person did not address the board during the hearing.

Fiscal Services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi presented the information on the budget and the amount each fund would need for the property tax levy for 2025, compared to the current year.

Wilhelmi’s presentation showed the overall net property tax levy amount would decrease by $6,703.12 or a decrease of .19 percent from the previous year.

In September the BEA Board had set the preliminary levy at the maximum allowed, and not a specific number.

Wilhelmi said when the final figures were all tabulated, the decrease in the levy was the result.

Later in the meeting, after the Truth in Taxation Hearing was over, the board voted on the final levy amount which was the .19 percent decrease.

During the regular meeting the board heard the annual audit report which also showed the district to be in good financial condition.

The audit was approved by the board later in the meeting.

In other business at the meeting the BEA School Board:

–Heard reports from the principals and Curriculum/Instruction director.

— Approved a resolution establishing combined polling places for 2025, in case any election will be needed to be held.

— Approved the World’s Best Workforce Summary Report for 2023-2024.

— Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Blue Earth Education Association concerning the READ Act.

–Approved several personnel changes, including: new hirings of Lisa Paloma and Baylea Way as elementary teachers, Elizabeth VonDerWerff and Jazmin Lopez as paraprofessionals and Malorie Thompson as a substitute teacher; resignations of paraprofessionals Tyesha Harvey, Ashley Jacobson and Mary Dermody.

— Welcomed new student BEA School Board member Alexis Thompson, a junior. She was sworn into office by School Board Chairperson Sara Hauskins.

Hauskins also presented outgoing board member Jeff Eckles with a plaque and thanked him for his years of service to the board and the BEA School District.