Hibbing school board approves contractor payments, ratifies union pacts and eliminates director post

The School Board of Independent School District No. 701 (Hibbing Public School District) on July 8, 2026 approved a series of contractor payments for high school career and technical education (CTE) renovations, ratified collective bargaining agreements covering district staff, and voted to eliminate the Director of Teaching and Learning position, according to minutes of the regular board meeting.

In routine business, the board approved Payment #1 to HAWK Construction for $36,028.75 and Payment #2 to HAWK Construction for $214,847.30 for work on the Hibbing High School CTE classroom renovation project, and approved Payment #1 to Max Gray Construction for $119,936.44 for work on the CTE boiler building renovation. Each payment motion carried unanimously with the four directors present. The motions to approve contractor payments were moved and seconded in accordance with the minutes (for example, Director Polcher moved and Director Galatz supported several payments).

The board unanimously approved membership in the Minnesota School Boards Association and authorized payment of dues of $8,084.00 for the July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 policy period, and approved a letter of agreement with Sterle and Co. to perform the fiscal year 2026 audit. The board also approved the Fiscal Year 2027 long-term facilities maintenance revenue and expenditures plan as presented.

On personnel and governance matters, the board approved the elimination of the Director of Teaching and Learning position effective June 30, 2026, and approved transferring Mandy Huusko from a 48‑week elementary principal position to a 48‑week assistant high school principal position effective Aug. 1, 2026. The consent agenda — approved unanimously — included multiple hires, resignations, layoffs and internal postings and transfers (job numbers and effective dates are recorded in the minutes).

The board ratified collective bargaining agreements between ISD 701 and the Hibbing Administrative Unit and between ISD 701 and the Hibbing Non‑Aligned Unit for the period July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027; motions to approve those agreements carried unanimously. The minutes also record a separate motion approving a 10‑day internal posting for a permanent superintendent.

The agenda included first readings of two policies: Policy #409 (Family and Medical Leave) and Policy #717 (Procurement). Those were presented as first readings; no final action on those policies is recorded in the minutes excerpt.

A motion to keep the graduation date on June 4, 2026 (moved by Director Gabardi, supported by Director Galatz) did not pass; the minutes note the motion failed but do not record a vote tally. The board voted to cancel the optional July 22, 2026 meeting and adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

The actions recorded in the minutes affect district staffing, contract payments tied to ongoing CTE renovations, and the timeline for superintendent hiring and future policy review. The board minutes list specific job postings, transfers and effective dates for hires and layoffs and provide the financial amounts for dues and contractor payments.