Blue Earth Area High School junior Elijah Goshorn is the newest student member of the BEA School Board. He is welcomed by School Board chair Sara Hauskins, above.

The Blue Earth Area School Board spent the majority of their less than one hour regular monthly meeting on Monday night listening to lots of updates and reports.

Those included the usual reports from the superintendent and principals, to updates from six different committees and the School Board chairperson.

School Board chairperson Sara Hauskins started things off with a report about the evaluation of BEA superintendent Mandy Fletcher, which had been held in a closed session after last month’s regular meeting.

Hauskins reported that Fletcher was given an overall rating of 3.36 out of 4 points in meeting her goals, saying the evaluation reflected steady progress and strong leadership across key areas.

“Board members commended her commitment to student engagement, noting the increased opportunities for student voice and representations,” Hauskins said. “Her work on facilities planning was recognized for clear and transparent communication, even in the face of challenges.”

Additionally, Hauskins said the district’s culture and climate continue to improve, wit staff reporting greater respect, positivity, and meaningful involvement.

“Superintendent Fletcher’s dedication to communication and her focus on continuous improvement remain evident in her efforts to support students, staff and the community,” Hauskins said.

Fletcher has three goals for 2025-2026. One is the continuous Improvement Plan implementation. Two is Community, Family, and Staff engagement. Three is continue the Culture of Cooperation.

Superintendent Fletcher gave an update on a variety of numbers, including enrollment during her report.

“While we showed an increase in enrollment at the start of the year, that number usually goes down during the first month, and it did again this year,” superintendent Fletcher said. “While we were up by 20 students over the previous year in September, we have now gone below 1,000 student enrollment and are at 980 students.”

Fletcher said this is not unusual as the enrollment often varies during the first couple of months of school. Some is due to the migrant workers leaving, and some is due to the overall decline in population in the geographic area.

She also gave an update on the Free and Reduced numbers.

“These numbers are important because they drive funds for several programs,” Fletcher reported. “Our district is consistently in the 40 percent to 50 percent range, and we are currently right at that 50 percent number.”

Fletcher also introduced the new student member of the BEA School Board, Elijah Goshorn, a junior. The senior student on the board, doing her second year, is Alexis Thompson.

The meeting started with a proposed change to the agenda. School Board member Mark Franta wanted the board to discuss a change in policy for fee rates for non-BEA students who live in the district.

Chair Hauskins reminded him that those fees are set once a year, but Franta made a motion to put the item on the agenda. However, it died for lack of a second. He then voted no on the vote to approve the agenda.

In other business, the BEA School Board:

• Approved a Data Analytics proposal from a company called Team Works, at a cost of $8,600.

• Approved a resolution of Governing Board supporting MSHSL Form A Grant to Offset Student Activity Fees.

• Approved the 2025-2026 Winter Coaches list on a 5-1 vote. Board member Kyle Zierke voted no.

• Heard updates from the BEA School Foundation, DAT, Q Comp Oversight, Southern Plains Co-op, Community Ed Advisory and Certified Negotiations Committees.

• Accepted donations for BUCC-Y Bags from Delavan Fire Department, Frundt, Lundquist and Gustafson, ESCO, Daryl Pomranke, Winnebago Manufacturing, Faith Lutheran WELCA and Benco Operation Roundup. Also donations of school supplies from Blue Earth Dollar General and winter gear from CCF Bank.

• Made personnel changes including: resignations from paraprofessionals Kellie Miller and Maricela Curi; leave of absence for Lexi Mandler; hiring of paraprofessionals Ava Johnson and Tandi Huisenga.

• After the regular meeting was over, the board members had a Work Session that was a Board Professional Development session led by personnel from TeamWorks.