The Graettinger-Terril Board of Directors held its regular meeting with the following in attendance: Directors: Kevin Jensen, Patrick Fairchild,Mat Hanson, Joey Moen, Superintendent Marshall Lewis, Elementary Principal/Curriculum Director Anita Helmich, Director of Student Services Chad Francis, SBO Josh Bader and Board Secretary Angie Woods. Absent: Director Shamus Currans and MS/HS Principal Jeremy Simington. All votes are unanimous unless otherwise noted.
Call to Order-President Jensen at 6:03 p.m. in the BoardRoom in Terril, Iowa. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Determine a Quorum- Roll Call: Mat Hanson, Patrick Fairchild, Kevin Jensen and Joey Moen.
Adopt Agenda- Motion to adopt the Retiring Board Agenda by Moen. Seconded by Fairchild. Motion carried.
Welcome Guests- Heidi Borchers and Armando Mora
Instructional Support Public Hearing.
The Board of Directors of the Graettinger-Terril Community School District, in the Counties of Palo Alto, Emmet, Clay and Dickinson, State of Iowa, be authorized for a period of five (5) years to continue to levy and impose an instructional support tax in an amount (after taking into consideration instructional support state aid) of not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the total of regular program district cost for the budget year and moneys received under Section 257.14, Code of Iowa, as a budget adjustment in the budget year, and be authorized annually, in combination, as determined by the Board, to levy an instructional support property tax upon all the taxable property within the School District commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and to impose an instructional support income surtax upon the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the School District on December 31 for each calendar year commencing with calendar year 2026, or each year thereafter, the percent of income surtax to be determined by the Board for each fiscal year, to be used for any general fund purpose.
Public input was sought with no avail. Board members held discussion. The public hearing ended at 6:15pm.
Moen moved to approve the continuation of the Instructional Support Levy for another 5 years commencing with the 2026-27 budget year. Seconded by Farichild. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes-Motion by Fairchild to approve the November 17, 2025 regular board minutes. Seconded by Hanson. Motion carried.
Bills and Claims- Motion by Hanson to approve the Bills and Claims for December. Seconded by Fairchild. Motion carried.
Financial Reports- Bader presented the financials to the board.
Old Business- Amanda Smith from The District Marketing reported.
Adjourned Retiring Board- “Sine Die” Fairchild moved to adjourn at 7:27 p.m. Seconded by Moen. Motion carried.
Organizational Meeting of the Board
Board Secretary Woods called the Organizational meeting to order at 7:32 pm. Roll Call: Mat Hanson, Patrick Fairchild, Kevin Jensen and Joey Moen. Absent Shamus Currans. Director Moen departed the meeting at 7:58 p.m.
Approve Agenda: Fairchild moved to approve the agenda as presented. Seconded by Hanson. Motion carried.
Annual Meeting Items:
The Oath of office was administered to re-elected Mat Hanson by Secretary Angie Woods
Election of President: Woods called for nominations of Board President. Fairchild nominated Jensen as Board
President, Moen seconded. Fairchild moved to cease nominations. Seconded by Hanson. Motion carried. All ayes.
Woods administered the Oath to Jensen.
Election of Vice President: Fairchild nominated Moen as Board Vice-President, Hanson seconded. Hanson moved
to cease nominations. Seconded by Fairchild. Motion carried. All ayes. Woods administered the Oath to Moen.
Regular Meeting Date/Time and Location: Moen moved to approve regular meetings on the 3rd Monday of the
month, at 6:00 p.m., alternate between Graettinger and Terril. Subject to change. Seconded byHanson. Motion
carried.
Board Legal Council: Fairchild moved to maintain our current arrangement with Ahlers and Cooney as Council. Seconded by Hanson. Motion carried.
Board Committees: Fairchild moved to approve the committee representatives; Emmet County-TBD, Palo Alto County-Jensen, Dickinson County-Fairchild, Clay County-TBD Negotiations- Jensen and Hanson, IASB Delegate-Jensen, Building and Grounds- Jensen and Fairchild, Transportation-Currans and Moen, Curriculum-Fairchild and Currans, Sharing Liaison- Jensen and Hanson, School Improvement Advisory- Fairchild and Currans, Marketing-Hanson and Fairchild. Seconded by Moen. Motion carried.
Board Treasurer: Fairchild moved to maintain the current arrangement with Mr Bader. Seconded by Hanson. Motion carried. Woods administered the Oath.
Board Secretary: Hanson moved to maintain the current arrangement with Mrs. Woods. Moen Seconded. Motion carried. Oath was taken.
NEW BUSINESS
Activity Calendar: Moen moved to approve the January 2026 board calendar. Seconded by Hanson. Motion
carried. The next Board meeting is January 19, 2026 in Graettinger.
At-Risk/Dropout Prevention: Moen moved to approve the AT-Risk/Drop Out Prevention Plan. Second by Hanson. Motion carried.
SBRC Request: Fairchild moved to approve the authorisation to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee
for a modified supplemental amount of $1,597 due to an increase in enrollment from the prior year and authorization to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for a modified supplemental amount of $177,533 for open enrolled out students who were not included in the district’s previous year certified enrollment count. Seconded by Hanson. Motion carried.
PERSONNEL: Fairchild moved to approve Jordan Saul as a volunteer wrestling coach. Seconded by Moen. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORT- None at this time.
ADMINISTRATION REPORTS: Reports were given by Administration
BOARD SECRETARY COMMENTS
Open Enrollment- LH-KG and HH-2nd- to GT (25-26)
BOARD COMMENTS: None at this time
ADJOURNMENT: Fairchild moved to adjourn at 8:42 pm Seconded by Hanson. Motion carried.
_____________________________ __________________________________
Board President, Kevin Jensen Board Secretary, Angie Woods
