Board of Directors Meeting Release: July 29, 2025

DEERWOOD, Minn. --- Work in preparation for the 2025-2026 school year began in earnest for the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors when the decision-making body met for a two-day leadership workshop followed by its first scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 29 at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Conference Center. 

As the League enters its 110^th year of service to the more than 500 Member Schools, the opportunities for participation and student leadership continue to grow while the financial sustainability of the organization remains strong.  

“These three days of work and collaboration really set the tone for what we know will be a great year ahead,” said Board of Directors President Brent Schimek, the activities director at Deer River High School. “The high levels of commitment, dedication and enthusiasm are very evident. We are looking forward to serving the Member Schools again this school year.” 

In one of many Action Items on its agenda, the Board of Directors approved an annual budget of just more than $12 million that continues to provide leadership services and exceptional educational experiences through its 51 fine arts and athletic programs while also issuing a member fee credit.  

The approved budget includes an additional $104,000 insurance expenditure in this first year of 9^th Grade Governance. The cost increase is due to both the increase in 9^th grade participants and the increase in catastrophic insurance coverage from $3 million to $5 million.  

Entering this school year, the League is providing a credit to Member Schools’ membership fees of approximately $1.35 million. These credits will result in Membership Dues of $100 per school and $85 per activity. The credit once again eliminates the per-student fee that is typically part of membership dues. It is the third consecutive school year that Member Schools will receive a membership credit.  

“The MSHSL's journey from fiscal crisis in the midst of a global pandemic to its current state of solid financial health is truly remarkable,” said Board Member Dr. Renee Corneille, Superintendent of the St. Anthony/New Brighton School District. “As a superintendent on the Board, I've witnessed firsthand the League’s dedication to sound financial management. They've not only maintained an outstanding experience for schools, students, and fans, but have also demonstrated the efficiency and foresight to credit funds back to their members – a testament to their unwavering fiscal commitment." 

During the leadership workshop, League Staff shared that Member Schools reported total participation in all MSHSL programs of an all-time high of 277,773 for the 2024-2025 school year. The National Federation of State High School Associations will release its participation statistics in the coming weeks. Minnesota typically ranks in the top 10 of all state associations.  

The Board also acknowledged and celebrated the retirement of John Millea, who is retiring after 15 years of telling the stories of the league and its Member Schools.

In other action during the first of six in-person meetings this school year, the League’s Board of Directors:  

• Discussion Task: The Future of Belonging: Finding Community In A Fragmented World  

• Prose: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2019 ISBN 9781250196705 (hardcover) ISBN 9781250233615 (paperback)  

• Poetry: The Name She Gave Me by Betty Culley, HarperTeen, 2022. ISBN: 9780063157842 (Paperback) ISBN: 9780063157835 (Hardback)  

• Storytelling: Selected stories from Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org), a free e-book website.