Ken Petersen will oversee Albert Lea School Board meetings this year.

The board elected Petersen as chairman and Dave Klatt as vice chairman on Tuesday.

Nominations were announced by board members, and paper ballots were submitted to secretary Ashley Mattson, who then read the vote totals aloud.

As chairman, Petersen will work closely with Superintendent Mike Funk.

“I feel honored that I was named chairman,” he said.

Petersen served on the board from 1999-2008 and was elected in November for a second tenure. He was chairman for seven years during his first tenure.

“I’ve always enjoyed working on the school board, and I look forward to my term this time around, also,” he said. 

Angie Hanson and Neal Skaar were also elected to the board in November.

Klatt was elected on a 4-2 vote over Skaar, whom board member Jill Marin nominated for the position.

“It will be interesting,” Klatt said. “I am glad to work with Ken on it and use his expertise from before.”

Board member Mark Ciota will serve as treasurer, and Skaar will serve as clerk.

Ciota, Skaar and Klatt will serve on the finance committee. Marin and Hanson will serve on the policy committee, and Klatt, Petersen and Marin will serve on the facilities committee.

In other action, the board:

Named Wells Fargo, MN Trust, Home Federal Savings Bank, Associated Bank and Trust, Minnesota Bank and Trust and Commerce Bank as depositories for school district funds.

Designed Deputy Superintendent Lori Volz to serve as deputy board treasurer and Mattson, executive assistant to the office of the superintendent and school board, as deputy board clerk.

Authorized Funk and Volz to lease, purchase and contract for budgeted goods and services as approved by the board. The goods and services must meet certain standards.

Designated Director of Special Services Tami Alphs as district special education, federal programs and Elementary and Secondary Education Act authority.

Delegated Volz, district accountant Christopher Muhvich and others assigned under Volz’s direction the authority to make electronic transfers with appropriate documentations.

Directed administration to publish the annual notification of rights, protection and privacy of student records in the official newspaper of the district.

Designated Funk and Mattson to their role of identified official with authority for Minnesota Department of Education secure website access.