Forest Lake schools open applications for board vacancy; interviews set Dec. 4
ISD 831 opened applications to fill Luke Hagglund’s vacant school board seat, accepting submissions through 4 p.m. Nov. 20 and scheduling interviews for Dec. 4; eleven people applied. After the Dec. 4 interviews the board deadlocked and made no appointment, and on Dec. 11 the board named three finalists to advance the selection process.
📌 Key Facts
- After a resigning member, the Forest Lake school board initially dropped a plan to immediately replace the seat and said it would leave the seat unfilled while reassessing next steps (reported Oct. 23, 2025).
- The board scheduled a special meeting to address the vacancy and moved forward with a formal replacement process (reported Oct. 24, 2025).
- ISD 831 opened applications to fill Luke Hagglund’s seat with a deadline of 4 p.m. on Nov. 20, 2025; eleven people applied for the vacancy (applications reported Oct. 31; applicant total reported Nov. 28, 2025).
- The board planned a selection timeline: candidate interviews on Dec. 4, 2025; orientation for the appointee Dec. 5, 2025–Jan. 5, 2026; a 30‑day waiting period before final appointment (target Jan. 3, 2026) and a ceremonial oath planned for Jan. 8, 2026 (reported Oct. 31, 2025).
- Selection procedures include forming two or three subcommittees to advance one candidate each for interviews, plus an additional finalist drawn from 2024 school board runners in a set order beginning with Laura Ndirangu (reported Oct. 31, 2025).
- Candidates must meet statutory eligibility requirements (U.S. citizenship, age 21+, district residency, not holding another elected office, limits on income from district employment, and no qualifying sexual‑misconduct registration) (reported Oct. 31, 2025).
- Following interviews on Dec. 4 the board deadlocked on making an appointment and the vacancy remained unfilled; on Dec. 11, 2025 the Forest Lake Area Schools (ISD 831) School Board named three finalists to fill the vacant seat.
📊 Relevant Data
The Forest Lake Area School Board voted 4-3 on October 2, 2025, to send a letter urging state leaders to comply with federal Title IX rules by barring males from competing in female sports, with board members Jill Christenson, Gail Theisen, and Julie Corcoran voting no.
School board sends letter to state regarding Title IX — Hometown Source
In June 2025, the Forest Lake school board considered repealing the district's ban on clothing displaying the Confederate flag, swastika, and KKK symbols, leading to partisan debate and a 6-1 vote to send the policy back to committee.
Forest Lake school board debates repealing dress code ban on hate symbols — CBS News Minnesota
From 2010 to 2023, the proportion of White residents in Forest Lake decreased from 86.9% to 81.5%, while Asian residents increased from 2.6% to 5.89% and Black residents from 1.7% to 3.62%.
Forest Lake, MN | Data USA — Data USA
In 2025, statewide Minnesota MCA math proficiency rates are 52% for White students and 21% for Black students.
Minnesota students’ academic performance stagnates after pandemic declines — Minnesota Reformer
📰 Sources (7)
- The Forest Lake Area Schools (ISD 831) School Board named three finalists to fill the vacant board seat.
- Action occurred on December 11, 2025, following earlier interviews that ended without an appointment.
- After interviewing candidates on Dec. 4, the Forest Lake school board deadlocked and did not make an appointment to fill the vacant seat.
- The vacancy remains unfilled following the tie vote, with the board to determine next steps.
- The applicant field for the Forest Lake school board vacancy totals eleven candidates.
- ISD 831 is accepting applications to fill Luke Hagglund’s seat; applications due by 4 p.m. Nov. 20.
- Board will form two or three subcommittees to advance one candidate each for interviews; an additional finalist will be drawn from 2024 school board runners in a set order (starting with Laura Ndirangu).
- Interview date set for Dec. 4 with a goal to select a candidate; 30-day waiting period precedes final appointment on Jan. 3; ceremonial oath planned for Jan. 8.
- Orientation for the appointee is scheduled Dec. 5–Jan. 5.
- Statutory eligibility requirements listed (citizenship, age 21+, residency, no other elected office, income cap from district employment, no qualifying sexual‑misconduct registration).
- The Forest Lake School Board has scheduled a special meeting specifically to address the board vacancy.
- The meeting indicates the district is moving forward with next steps after pausing an immediate appointment.
- The Forest Lake school board has dropped its plan to immediately replace the resigning member.
- The seat will remain unfilled for now while the board reassesses next steps.