ELY- Ray Marsnik is known for running meetings that are tight, transparent, and fair.
It was no surprise, therefore, when his colleagues on the Ely school board elected him board chair once again, a position he has held for decades. Four times in a row, Marsnik asked for any other nominations at their reorganizational meeting on Monday, eliciting a few chuckles but no other suggestions, as the board re-elected him by acclamation.
The school board’s 2023 clerk, Rochelle Sjoberg, and treasurer Tom Omerza, were both elected in similar vein, by acclamation.
In other business, the school board:
• Heard the report of Athletic Director Tom Coombe that 147 students participated in sports during the fall season. “That’s a remarkable number considering the size of our enrollment,” Coombe stated. Volleyball drew the largest number, with 51 girls participating. Football, which is in its third year of hosting a cooperative team with Northeast Range School in Babbitt, involved 43 boys from both schools. Cross-country attracted 12 girls and 19 boys. Girls Swimming, another cooperative team with Northeast Range, had 17 Ely students participating, representing the vast majority of the team. Participant numbers include students in grades 7-12.
• Heard the report of District Superintendent Anne Oelke that the district would be issuing bids for the new windows to be installed this summer. “We’re putting out bids for windows now,” Oelke said, “because there is a 20-week lead time on ordering windows.”
Oelke’s submitted written report included an updated K-12 enrollment of 533 students, which is two more than the Dec. 6 report. The enrollment at the beginning of the school year (Sept. 7) was 529.
• Heard the report of Facilities Director Tim Leeson that the sewer pipe clog was cleared and that sewer repairs were on the schedule for this summer.
• Designated the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. as the day and time of the regular school board meeting.
• Designated the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. as the day and time for the monthly study session.
• Approved the Ely Echo as the official district newspaper for 2024. This was the only quote received.
• Approved the Klun Law Firm as the district legal counsel for 2024. The superintendent and school board chairperson were designated as the individuals authorized to contact legal counsel at $125/hour, which is the same rate as 2023.
• Approved Highland Bank, U.S. Bank, Minnesota School Liquid Asset Fund, and PMA Financial Network as the district’s financial institutions.
• Designated Spencer Aune, Finance Manager, and Jordan Huntbatch, Payroll, Benefits and Finance Coordinator, as the district staff approved to conduct electronic fund transfers.
• Approved the 2024 IRS standard mileage rate of 68 cents per mile as the reimbursement rate for school district travel during 2024.
• Approved the school board compensation levels for 2024 using the current rate of inflation of 3.1 percent at $230 per month plus life insurance ($30,000) for directors, $296 per month plus life insurance ($30,000) for the board chair, and an additional $66 per board member for the monthly study session.
• Approved 2024 RAMS membership dues of $1,500.
• Approved the December 2023 financial report, receipts of $870,274, and disbursements of $1,243,989.
• Approved the transfer of Stacy Hegfors from her position as Media Clerk, effective Dec. 15, 2023, and to her position as the Washington Elementary School secretary, effective Dec. 18, 2023.
• Approved the hire of Anna-Lena Forsman for a paraprofessional position effective Dec. 18, 2023.
• Accepted the resignation of Tatianna Riabokin from her 2023-2024 Extra-Curricular assignment as the Musical Choreographer effective immediately, and approved the recommendation of Jeff Carey, Memorial 6-12 Principal, and Mike Rouse, Musical Director, to appoint Wendy Lindsay as the Musical Choreographer.
• Approved the reduction of hours for the Media Clerk position from 32.5 hours/week to 15 hours/week, effective immediately.
• Approved a $200 donation from the Ely Kiwanis for visiting Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.