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Ely School Board members worked through a series of personnel and housekeeping matters on Monday night, including the approval of a new contract for the district’s chief executive.
Superintendent Anne Oelke inked a deal with the district that runs through June 30, 2025.
The contract, recommended by the board’s negotiating team, calls for $43,500 in compensation.
Oelke will also be the district’s K-12 principal in 2024-25, with that contract likely for board action later this summer.
The district’s administrative configuration has changed twice in the last two years, with Oelke taking on superintendent duties last year in addition to her role then as elementary principal. That decision came after John Klarich retired from his part-time superintendent post here.
Another change, driven by budget considerations, is planned for 2024-25 with Oelke assuming the principal role for the entire school, and Jeff Carey moving from high school principal to assistant principal for grades K-12.
Rochelle Sjoberg, a board member who doubles as the board’s chief negotiator, voiced satisfaction with the deal and said the contract largely mirrors the one Oelke had with the district from in 2023-24.
It includes 104 duty days. “There are not other changes with the exception of wage, and we did see a significant reduction under retirement,” said Sjoberg.
Oelke worked as elementary principal for several years and had a one-year mentorship arrangement with Klarich before he left the district.
Board members have pressed for more stability in administration after going through a series of changes.
Since mid-2015, the district had three part-time superintendents, with Kevin Abrahamson on board until 2019 and Erik Erie following until his resignation in January, 2022. Klarich, a long-time Iron Range superintendent, came out of retirement to take the reins here and stayed until May 31, 2024.
In another personnel matter Monday, the board approved the hire of new science teacher Logan McLouth, who will fill the vacancy created when Nate LaFond resigned from his full-time science teaching position.
The district also has a new high school girls basketball coach - one with a familiar name.
Tomi McDonald, the daughter of boys basketball coach Tom McDonald, will take the reins of the Ely girls program.
McDonald is a 2008 Ely graduate and scored nearly 2,000 points in her prep career before going on to play at both Vermilion Community College and Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
She has previous coaching experience, including three years as head coach at Vermilion.
In other business, the board:
• Accepted the resignations of part-time custodian Monica Gross and activity advisors Mike Rouse (fall musical), Amy Kingsley (Gamers Guild, Youth In Action) and Elyssa Erickson (junior class, junior/senior banquet).
• Renewed the contracts of head coaches Louie Gerzin (football), Megan Wognum (volleyball), Jayne Dusich (boys/girls cross country), Jake Myers (hockey), Todd Hohenstein (boys/girls Nordic Skiing), Tom McDonald (boys basketball) and Desirae Smith (dance team).
• Hired assistant coaches including Jim Wittrup (football), Randi Walker (volleyball) and Sarah Spate (boys/ Girls cross country).
• Approved an $8,150 contract with Minnesota School Board Association’s Strategic Planning Services for planning sessions to take place with the board in the fall.
• Approved entering into cooperative agreements with Northeast Range for boys and girls track, and boys and girls cross country, with Ely serving as the host school.
• Approved entering into a cooperative agreement with Northeast Range, with Northeast Range to serve as host school, for wrestling.
• Approved a request by the Ely Sports Hall of Fame Committee, for placement of a plaque on school grounds recognizing honorees in the Ely Sports Hall of Fame.
• Approved a snow plowing contract with Phil Hegfors and Sons, the only firm to bid.
• Awarded the district fuel contract to low bidder Edwards Oil for tanker propane supply, at a cost of 96.96 cents per gallon. The district will save five cents per gallon from the price it paid in 2023-24.
• Received the annual report on Q-Comp teacher compensation.
• Awarded the district bread contract to Pan-OGold Baking and the milk contract to Prairie Farms. They were the only firms to bid.
• Approved a professional services contract with Range Mental Health.
• Approved 2024-25 insurance premiums of $182,432, awarding the contract to Vaaler Insurance.
