Laingsburg schools opened short-staffed, shut School of Choice early

Laingsburg Community Schools opened the 2026-27 year short of paraprofessionals, custodians and teachers, and cut off School of Choice enrollment in early August to keep its buildings staffed, according to the approved minutes of the Board of Education's Aug. 18 regular meeting.

Superintendent Matt Shastal told trustees the district "closed School of Choice in early August to help us staff appropriately," the minutes say. He added that Laingsburg is "starting the year a little short-staffed" in those three job categories and "will look to add staff throughout the year as needed." The minutes do not say how many positions are open.

The gap follows a summer of turnover. The board acknowledged two retirements — bus driver Sally Barberio, effective Aug. 1, and high school teacher Lisa Kingsbury, effective Aug. 31 — and five resignations: bus driver Howard Malitz, elementary teacher Rachel Shiller, paraprofessional Sarah Cole, middle school teacher Alyssa Gill and food service worker Trina Buckland, all effective between July 22 and Aug. 12.

Against those seven departures, trustees approved five hires the same night: elementary teacher Katie Crowell, high school teacher Cassie Stone, daycare staffer Taylor Brewer, food service worker Cassie Hoppes and middle school assistant football coach Melissa Denkins. The board also approved contracts with athletic trainer Melissa Phillips and public health nurse Kylie Richard. Every personnel vote was unanimous.

The board also finished a second reading and adopted a package of bylaw and policy updates — among them a replacement Policy 5136 on wireless communication devices, the section of the policy book that governs student cell phones, and a replacement Policy 7540.09 on artificial intelligence. The minutes list the policy numbers but not the language, so what the new phone rule actually requires of Laingsburg students is not in the record. Cell phones are live across the county: The Current reported that the Corunna school board opened its own cell phone policy debate this month.

Also adopted in the package: a new staff ethics policy for both professional and support staff, revised purchasing and federal-grant procurement policies, a revised emergency operations plan policy, and a new policy on specialized transportation for students with IEPs.

On the money side, trustees approved July warrants totaling $1,167,639.42 — $517,873 in accounts payable, $621,961.17 in payroll, $25,805.25 in ACH and transfers and $2,000 in building and site spending. The Current reported in August that the board adopted a 2026-27 general fund budget projecting $14.9 million in revenue against $15.6 million in spending, a $643,182 gap, and that it suspended middle and high school athletic participation fees for this school year.

Shastal told the board the 2025-26 audit presentation will come in October, and thanked board President Jason Michels for meeting with the auditors. Six of seven trustees were present; Shane Brink was excused. The meeting ran 32 minutes.

What happens next: District enrollment and the 2025-26 audit were both listed as topics for future agendas. The next regular meeting was set for Tuesday, Sept. 15, and the audit presentation is due in October.