SLEEPY EYE — The District 88 Board unanimously approved a master agreement with the Sleepy Eye Education Association Wednesday.

Action came on a motion by board member Joleen Dittbenner, seconded by Brian Nelson to approve a 8.5% total package hike over two years, for the 2019-2021 school years.

The board also approved a fiscal year 2019 audit presented by Eide Bailley Senior Associate Becca Tomlinson. She said the school district’s $3.11 million fund balance contributes to a favorable rating.

“The audit resulted in a clean opinion. With a $757,0000 reserved fund balance, the district could operate for almost four months without more cash, which is great,” Tomlinson said. “Revenues were $7.61 million, expenses were $7.57 million.”

The board also approved:

• A $500 donation from Sleepy Eye Medical Center for student wellness and two $19.41 anonymous donations for positive behavior intervention for students.

• Hiring head golf coach Bryan Mages at $3,907 effective in 2020.

• Sleepy Eye FFA members reported a fabulous experience at the National Convention in Indianapolis. Members attending included Brennen Meyer, Emma Fischer, Cali Rossbach, Sarahi Carrerea, Millicent Sorenson, Trey Heiderscheidt, Maranda Braulick, Martina Nienhaus, Isaac Johnson, Morgan Hoffmann, Maddison Helget, Nayzeth Luna, Katelyn Capacia, Miah Brown, Kalli Christensen, Syarrah Ulrich, McKenna Dockter, Hailey Meinert, Jack Schroepfer, Taylor Lambrecht, Jacob Schultz, Adam Johnson, Cassidy Hacker, Parker Neid and Mckenzie Cselovszki.

National Jr. Quiz Bowl team 1 of Heiderscheidt, Hoffmann, Johnson and Capacia finished 7th among 41 teams. Team 2 of Luna, Brown, Meyer and Ulrich was 17th of 41 teams.

The National Sr. Quiz Bowl team of Dockter, Braulick, Christensen and Lambrecht was 18th of 63 teams. McKenna was the stop senior team scorer.

Rossbach received gold in the national Poultry Career Development Event. She and the team of Helget, Nienhaus and Fischer got a silver rating.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter got a 3-Star National Chapter rating.

American FFA Degrees were received by Cassidy Hacker, Cselovszki, Neid, Jon Mickelson, Isaac Nelson and Isabella Portner.

Nearly 70,000 members and guests attended the national convention and career expo that included hundreds of agricultural businesses, colleges and vendors.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.