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L-BF School Board Recap: New Leadership Elected for 2026

The Littlefork-Big Falls School Board held its January organizational meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, electing a new chair and completing the board’s annual reorganization. All six members were present for the 7:00 p.m. session, which adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Officer Elections

Previous Chair Jonathan Blake presided over nominations before handing the gavel to the newly elected chair. Here’s how the 2026 officer slate came together:

  • Chair: Trent Wimmer was nominated by Michael Imhof; Jennifer Horne was also nominated by Trent Wimmer. Wimmer was elected by a vote of 4–2 and presided over the remainder of the meeting.
  • Vice Chair: Chelsey Melander was nominated by Monte Nelson; Jennifer Horne was also nominated by Melander. Melander was elected by a vote of 5–1.
  • Clerk: Jennifer Horne was nominated by Michael Imhof and elected by acclamation as the only candidate.
  • Treasurer: Michael Imhof was nominated by Monte Nelson and elected by acclamation as the only candidate.

Board Appointments

The board unanimously approved committee assignments for all six members (moved by Michael Imhof, seconded by Jennifer Horne; All in favor — 6, Opposed — 0). Key assignments include:

  • MSHSL & Superintendent Liaison: Michael Imhof, Jonathan Blake
  • Legislative Liaison: Trent Wimmer
  • BRIC: Jonathan Blake
  • ECFE: Chelsey Melander
  • Title IX: Jennifer Horne
  • Building Committee: Michael Imhof, Monte Nelson
  • Transportation: Michael Imhof, Jonathan Blake
  • Negotiations: Trent Wimmer, Monte Nelson, Michael Imhof
  • Meet & Confer: Monte Nelson, Jonathan Blake
  • Community Education: Chelsey Melander, Jonathan Blake
  • Policy: Chelsey Melander, Jennifer Horne
  • Curriculum: Jennifer Horne
  • Staff Development: Jennifer Horne
  • Technology: Monte Nelson
  • Hiring (Sports & EC): Michael Imhof, Jonathan Blake
  • Hiring (Education & Staff): Trent Wimmer, Monte Nelson, Michael Imhof
  • Finance: Monte Nelson, Trent Wimmer
  • Safety: Jonathan Blake
  • School Forest: Michael Imhof
  • Comprehensive Achievement & Civic Readiness: Jonathan Blake
  • Kooch County Collaborative: Jennifer Horne
  • Wellness Committee: Jennifer Horne

Annual Organizational Motions

Several routine organizational items passed unanimously (All in favor — 6, Opposed — 0):

  • Board member compensation set at $40 per meeting; $125 per day if absent from work (moved by Jonathan Blake, seconded by Chelsey Melander)
  • Meal allowances set at Breakfast $11 / Lunch $13 / Dinner $20 (moved by Monte Nelson, seconded by Michael Imhof)
  • Mileage reimbursement at the 2026 IRS Federal rate (moved by Jennifer Horne, seconded by Chelsey Melander)
  • Regular meetings set for the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. (moved by Michael Imhof, seconded by Monte Nelson)
  • Financial institutions designated for school funds: Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund (MSDLAF), PFM Asset Management, US Bank, Old National Bank, and TruStar Federal Credit Union (moved by Jennifer Horne, seconded by Chelsey Melander)
  • The Rainy Lake Gazette designated as the official newspaper for 2026 (moved by Chelsey Melander, seconded by Jennifer Horne)
  • Ratwik, Rosak & Maloney, P.A. designated as official legal counsel; Superintendent Jamie Wendt and Business Manager Kristi Anderson named as authorized contacts (moved by Michael Imhof, seconded by Monte Nelson)
  • Business Manager Kristi Anderson and Superintendent Wendt granted authority to designate depositories, initiate electronic fund transfers, sign Petty Cash Fund checks, and assign collateral on behalf of ISD 362 (moved by Chelsey Melander, seconded by Jennifer Horne)
  • Anderson and Wendt also authorized to sign documents on behalf of the district (moved by Monte Nelson, seconded by Michael Imhof)

Student Recognitions

The board celebrated several standout students and staff:

  • December Students of the Month: Maci Rousseau (Jr. High) and Remi Drewes (Sr. High)
  • Boys basketball player Jax Sullivan scored his 1,000th career point during a January game at Northome-Kelliher
  • The board recognized all L-BF paraprofessionals in honor of Paraprofessional Week

New Hires Approved

The board unanimously approved the following hires as part of the consent agenda (moved by Michael Imhof, seconded by Chelsey Melander; All in favor — 6, Opposed — 0):

  • Cameron McRoberts — Title I Teacher
  • Macy Reller — Paraprofessional
  • Nicole Friend — Mathematics Teacher
  • Betsy Brokaw — Head Softball Coach
  • Samantha Westerman — Assistant Softball Coach
  • Cameron McRoberts — Assistant Baseball Coach
  • Kori Bird — Spring Trap Coach
  • Jonathan Blake — Spring Trap Coach
  • Joseph Kerry — Spring Trap Coach

The consent agenda also included approval of a Pay Equity Report and a lane change for Stacy Ottemann from MA 15 Step 12 to MA 30 Step 12.

Transportation Update

Brett Burmeister, Transportation Director, presented an update covering the district’s fuel storage tanks, future repair and replacement needs, and the question of purchasing versus leasing buses going forward. The board also discussed the district’s long-term bus rotation cycle.

Program Reduction Resolution

The board unanimously approved a resolution directing administration to develop recommendations regarding the possible reduction and/or discontinuance of certain programs and positions (moved by Jennifer Horne, seconded by Monte Nelson; All in favor — 6, Opposed — 0).

Administrative Report

Superintendent Wendt shared several updates with the board:

  • The third quarter began on January 19
  • Mid-quarter conferences are scheduled for February 12 and 13
  • No school on Monday, February 16 — school will run Tuesday through Friday that week
  • Teachers completed AI training with Gruvy Education the previous Friday
  • The Capti BeadBasix reading screener has been administered for grades 4–12; the elementary school is screened and the district is now in full compliance, with the next administrator training scheduled for the following morning
  • Mrs. Hasbargen has been teaching Spanish 1 & 2 since November
  • Board meeting agendas will now include a standard note that in the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be rescheduled to the following day — eliminating the previous three-day posting requirement
  • A Building and Grounds meeting will need to be scheduled in February

Community Education

The district’s Community Education program has an active lineup of winter offerings. Current programs include fitness center memberships and Monday evening classes, yoga every other Sunday, recreational volleyball on Sunday evenings, traveling basketball for 4th–6th grade boys and girls, Saturday morning basketball, a kids book club, and hall walking.

Coming up soon: a second session of 4-H, Lego Club, Puzzle League, and a full slate of SnoFun Days events including a snow sculpture contest, the high school SnoFun celebration, a sled parade, and a SnoFun Days bingo card.

Other Motions

The following motions passed unanimously (All in favor — 6, Opposed — 0):

  • Approved the agenda (moved by Michael Imhof, seconded by Chelsey Melander)
  • Approved minutes of the December 17, 2025 regular meeting (moved by Jennifer Horne, seconded by Jonathan Blake)
  • Approved invoices (moved by Michael Imhof, seconded by Chelsey Melander)
  • Approved Treasurer’s Report (moved by Monte Nelson, seconded by Jennifer Horne)

No public comments were heard at the public forum. No correspondence was received.

Next Meeting

The next regular L-BF School Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the School Board Room in Littlefork.

View on ISD 362 Website →

Experimental Feature — This article was automatically generated from official Littlefork-Big Falls School District public records. This feature is in early testing and will be refined in the near future. For complete details, please visit the ISD 362 website.

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Independent School District #362
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Independent School District #362

The Littlefork-Big Falls School District offers a comprehensive educational program across its two schools.

Littlefork-Big Falls School District: A Commitment to Excellence in Education

The Littlefork-Big Falls School District (ISD 362) serves the educational needs of students from preschool through 12th grade. With a focus on academic excellence and community engagement, ISD 362 offers a comprehensive educational experience designed to prepare students for future success.

Academic Programs and Services

ISD 362 provides a diverse curriculum that includes core subjects such as language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. In addition to these foundational areas, the district offers enrichment programs in art, music, and physical education, ensuring a well-rounded education for all students.

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Littlefork-Big Falls School District
700 Main Street Littlefork, MN 56653
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