Bemidji School Board Elects Leaders, Keeps Pay Unchanged
At its Jan. 6 organizational meeting, the Bemidji Area Schools Board elected Todd Haugen as chair and Jack Aakhus as vice chair, and decided to keep board member compensation at current levels. The choices reflect the district’s tightened budget after $1.5 million in reductions last year and will shape governance, bargaining and public oversight in the year ahead.
The Bemidji Area Schools Board of Education completed its annual organizational business on Jan. 6, selecting leadership, assigning committees and setting its regular meeting schedule. Todd Haugen was chosen as board chair. Jack Aakhus was elected vice chair in a 4-2 vote over Jenny Frenzel. Frenzel was elected board clerk and Anna Manecke was appointed board treasurer, with District Business Director Ashley Eastridge authorized to perform treasurer duties in the interim.
Board compensation drew attention during the session. Board members currently receive $525 per month, while the chair receives an additional $675 per year. Frenzel proposed a $25 monthly increase for members to reflect cost-of-living pressures and prior practice of occasional adjustments. The board ultimately voted to retain existing rates after noting recent budget reductions and the district’s constrained financial position following $1.5 million in cuts the prior year.
The board also approved a compensation structure for table negotiators who represent the district in contract talks: $150 per meeting for sessions longer than four hours and $75 for meetings shorter than four hours. That decision addresses the operational costs of bargaining work and may affect how the district staffs and schedules negotiation sessions with employee groups.
Committee assignments and monthly meeting dates were finalized, and the board set its first regular meeting of 2026 for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, in the district board room. Those meetings remain the primary forum for public oversight of district budgeting, policy and personnel decisions.
For residents, the organizational outcomes have concrete implications. Keeping compensation unchanged tightens the financial framework for governance at a time when the district has recently trimmed its budget, signaling fiscal caution that could affect priorities for schools and classrooms. The table negotiator pay rules are likely to influence the pace and staffing of collective bargaining, with potential downstream effects on contract timelines and labor relations.
Transparency and civic engagement will be important as the board works through its 2026 agenda. Community members who want to monitor budget decisions, committee work or bargaining developments can attend the Jan. 26 meeting in the district board room and watch how these leadership and compensation choices shape policy throughout the year.
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