ELY- The Ely School Board, Monday, continued with cost-saving measures as it works to reduce a potential deficit. On this month’s agenda, that included dissolving a 2019 agreement for IT services with Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital. The cancellation of the agreement will save the district around $40,000, said superintendent Anne Oelke, adding that the hospital is open to working with the district on a limited, as-needed basis.
Oelke said the school will be able to do some of this IT work in house, and if needed, can also work with Voltz. The school’s technology is a bit simpler now, she said, since they have transitioned to using chromebooks and discontinued their use of iPads.
The board went into a closed session to conduct the annual evaluation of the superintendent, using a process adopted at a meeting last month. The evaluation is part of a year-long process and is goals and standards-based. The board will give a report on the evaluation process at the next board meeting on June 23.
Oelke said the athletic facilities committee will be meeting to discuss what upgrades to include in the $5-million project that will get underway next school year. The first step, she said, was tallying how much each facility is used. The school hopes to go for bids on the project in early 2026.

Other business
In other business, the board:
• Awarded bids for bread, milk, propane, snowplowing, and insurance for the next school year. The board noted that the cost for propane had increased slightly, but insurance had gone down slightly. The cost for snowplowing remained stable.
• Hired teacher Jennifer Kerntz and paras LeaRae Richards, Jacki Tolbert, and Abby Maki for the extended year summer program. Accepted the resignation of special education teacher Elizabeth Townsend, ECFE parent educator Sarah Hanson, para Trenton Flegel, and para Abby Maki.
• Approved a letter of understanding between the district and teacher’s union regarding the employment status of teacher Suzanne Zobitz for the 2025/2026 school year, placed Zobitz on unrequested leave of absence from the 1.0 FTE position this year and reinstated her to a 0.8 FTE for the next school year.
• Accepted $100 donations from the Kiwanis Club and the Ely PTO.
• Heard the district qualifies for a higher level of reimbursement under the federal E-Rate program for updating the wifi in the buildings.
• Will hold a study session and meeting on Monday, June 23.
•  Oelke said she hopes to have updated numbers on the district’s state funding by August, which are needed to finalize next year’s budget.
• Thanked Tom Coombe for his heartfelt and personal speech given during graduation, and noted that three track team members are competing in the state tournament.
• The superintendent and principal’s report highlighted all the special activities and field trips in the fourth quarter.