By Crystal Reith The Murray County Central School Board met Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, and approved several extended trips, fall coaching and advisor positions and resolutions.
Superintendent Joe Meyer provided an update on items purchased for the new fiscal year, including curriculum materials, property and liability insurance, parking lot paving, new computers, food service equipment and supplies, and other necessary items. He also shared that efforts are underway to digitize the district’s yearbooks.
Meyer presented contracts for fall coaching and advisor positions and reported the resignation of Mr. Bobeldyk as school patrol advisor and paraprofessional Aranda Forsberg. The board approved the consent agenda items.
The board approved a resolution regarding school board member voting. Brent Miller, Heather Hoekman and Mike Stelter will be listed, as well as a write-in option, on the ballot. Three positions are open.
Meyer also presented food service items identified as surplus, including two older but still operational ovens, one stainless-steel warming cabinet and five fold-up cafeteria-style tables.
The board approved the outof- state trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the marching band.
The board also approved extended trips for the FFA livestock judging team to participate in the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa; the regional FFA meats and general livestock judging contests at South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, SD; the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana; Little International at SDSU and the State FFA Convention at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.
The board approved a resolution authorizing the superintendent to lease, purchase, and contract for goods and services.
High School Principal Tessa Dierks reported current enrollment of 311 students in grades 7–12. She also shared that four new teachers, Melissa Kramer, Molly Larson, Krista Keller, and Madeleine Schmuck, will be joining the MCC staff.
All-staff workshop days are scheduled for August 31 through September 3. Online back-to-school registration opened on August 10. Seventhgrade orientation night will be held on September 2. The staff welcome-back event is scheduled for September 1 from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. in the high school auditorium.
Meyer updated the Board on the line striping for the new parking lot, paperwork for the state cybersecurity grant, the annual all-staff back-to-school picnic, building cleaning, and the draft 2026–2027 strategic plan. He also reported that the fall Community Education brochure will be ready for distribution by August 17. Meyer shared a letter from the Southwest Regional Development Commission notifying the board that nominations are being sought to fill the school board representative vacancy on the Commission Elementary Principal Patrick Freeman reported an enrollment of 370 students for the 2026–2027 school year. Twenty- one students participated in Extended School Year services.
Five elementary staff members will attend the STAR Program workshop, and ten staff members will attend the BEST in CLASS early childhood workshop on September 15. Kyndra Martens, Kaylin Gibbons, and Addison Blissmer will serve as Ampact Reading and Math Corps staff members.
The PBIS Committee will meet on August 19 to plan for the upcoming school year. Freeman also reported that there will not be an elementary fundraiser this year. Registration is open for elementary families, and back-to-school conferences will be held prior to the start of school. Students will begin classes on September 10.
The board gratefully accepted the following donations: Hadley Lions - $100 for backpack program, Slayton American Legion - $300 for Legion baseball and APEX Clean Energy - $2,000 for theater.
The next monthly meeting of the MCC School Board is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. in the high school library.
