March 13, 2023 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting (Executive Session to follow)

Background:  The following personnel are presented for the board’s consideration:

New Hire (Certificated): Cami Wenk, teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, $51,628.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Courtney Pitsor, teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, $45,250.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

New Hire (Support Staff): Kelsey Nilson, special services paraprofessional, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $15.00/hr. eff. 2/27/2023.

Resignation (Certificated): Meagan Jensen, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Audrey Matson, special services teacher, Sturgis Elementary, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Tori Christopherson, special services teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Joseph Koons, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Tate Dewey, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Lisa Skovlund, special services teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Amber Fondren, nurse, district-wide, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year.

Resignation (Support Staff): Harleigh Stange, paraprofessional, Piedmont Valley Elementary, eff. 3/3/2023; Jamie McAuliffe, food service worker, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. 3/14/2023; Rachel Palmer, head administrative assistant, Stagebarn Middle School, eff. 3/17/2023.

Resignation (Extracurricular): Tori Christopherson, volleyball coach, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year.

Retirement (Certificated): Deb Wilburn, assistant special services director, district-wide, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Scott Peterson, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year.

Background:  Community members who have volunteered to work in schools throughout the district: Scottie Bruch, middle school track coach.

Background:  Board members and school administrators/officials need to request a conflict of interest waiver before participating in or voting upon a decision concerning an application in which that member has a direct personal or financial interest.  

Background:  Open Forum is an opportunity for patrons to share their thoughts and concerns.  The school board will listen, but no discussion takes place and there will not be board action.  Board members may ask clarifying questions. The protocol established for open forum is to provide a time limit of three minutes to share concerns.  If a patron would like to have a two-way discussion, they are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the superintendent. 

Background:  The Character Education word of the month for March is "Cooperation," which involves help, assistance, support, teamwork, and working together.

Background: 

Congratulations to the SBHS Speech and Debate team for their winnings at the District Qualifying Tournament in Sheridan, WY Feb 24-25. The team won the Small School Sweepstakes award and qualified five students for the National Tournament in Phoenix, AZ that will be held in June. In addition to those winnings, the team finished second at the SD State AA Speech and Debate Tournament held in Mitchell March 3-4.  The meet featured 26 schools from all over the state and included an "A" division and a "AA" division.
  

Background:  The South Dakota Forensics Coaches Association has selected Mr. Johnson as the Head Debate Coach of the Year for South Dakota. The SDFCA is a professional organization for speech, debate and oral interpretation coaches in the state of South Dakota at the junior high, high school and collegiate level. 

Background:  Two groups of students from Stagebarn MS competed in the First Lego League competition on January 28th at the School of Mines. 

On Saturday, March 4th, the Stallion team, which is comprised of 7th and 8th graders, went to the State Championship in Sioux Falls at Augustana University. The team took 10th place and improved their last scores by more than 35 points in their presentation and their project. This was the first in-person state event since COVID.

 

Background:  Joni Spring, a 7th grader at Atall Elementary, won the 4-H Individual as well as the team Reserve Champion Wool Judging in the junior division at the Black Hills Stock Show in February.

 

Background:  SBHS teacher, Eric Johnson will be presenting data on the 4-day school week proposal for SBHS.

Background:  Mr. Wormstdt will provide a short summary of the activities committee report that has been created by MEA and administration committee members.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt will provide a brief presentation on the general fund balance and special education fund based on the proposed State Aid increase.

Background:  The monthly financial reports for the board’s review.  Brett Burditt will answer any questions you might have regarding financials. 

Background:  The Policy Committee is recommending the Board waive the second and third reading of School Board Policy BFC: Policy Adoption and adopt the revised policy effective immediately as there were minor changes. The highlighted changes in yellow have been added to the policy.

Background:  The Policy Committee is recommending the Board waive the second and third reading of School Board Policy GCNB*: Evaluation of Administrators and adopt the revised policy effective immediately as there were minor changes. The changes are highlighted in yellow.

Background:  The Policy Committee is recommending the Board waive the second and third reading of School Board Policy JFCE: Anti-Bullying/Harassment of Students and adopt the revised policy effective immediately as there were minor changes. The highlighted changes in yellow have been added to the policy.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt is requesting the Board approve to amend the Title I budget in the general fund by $96,500.00 for professional development for district staff and ELL services at Sturgis Elementary and summer school. Funding is from Title I carry-over funds that need to be spent or the district will exceed the 15% carry-over maximum set by the SD DOE.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt is requesting the Board approve the revised kitchen equipment bid package and the authorization to work with Bargreen Ellingson and Scull Construction, to coordinate the order and shipment of the equipment for the SBHS Cafeteria Project.

Background:  Rural schools have had six snow day cancelations and the rest of the district schools have had seven snow day cancelations.  We have made up 3 days per the Board-approved calendar.

The district has four snow days which have not been made up and rural schools have three days which have not been made up. From the previous Board discussion, there was no support for making up student instruction days unless the district went below the minimum hours. Mr. Wormstadt and Curriculum/Technology director, Beth Johnson, visited with district administration and instructional council.   

My recommendation is to have teachers attend in person on Thursday, May 25th.  The morning would be a breakfast for all staff and recognition of retirees, teacher of the year, and employee of the year.

The other 2-3 days will be individual staff development choices as created by the Curriculum Director and Instructional Council. See attached document.

Any additional days will need to be decided.

Background:  New positions require Board action to create the additional position. Due to the increase in special education needs in students, specifically autism, the special education department is recommending the Board approve a 1.0 FTE special education teacher position.

Background:  Mr. Wormstadt recommends the calendar presented be adopted with one change.  Eliminate one student contact day (Friday) to allow for work time to be added in as one full day for teachers.

Background:  The proposed calendars were reviewed by the administration team and MEA for changes. Mr. Wormstadt recommends the Board approve the 2024-25 school year as presented.

Background:  The City of Sturgis has provided the district with a lease for joint use and cost sharing for Woodle Field. The lease is set to expire 12/31/2023 with a renewal clause in paragraph 4. Mr. Wormstadt is recommending the Board approve the Notice of Intent to Renew letter and provide to the City of Sturgis before the March 15, 2023 deadline for the lease to be renewed for an additional five years.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt, is requesting the Board approve a utility easement request from West River Electric for the property in Union Center where the old Depository is located. This is for a transmission line that runs along the west side of the property along the county road.

Background:  An updated procedure needs to be put into place for SBHS and middle schools students that wish to attend BHOLL virtually.  This procedure will follow what Spearfish is also doing.  We are moving towards online virtual learning as an option for medical reasons or special circumstances.

Background:  The old depository property in Union Center was not properly transferred over to Meade School District 46-1. School attorney, Eric Nies, has worked with BH Title and prepared a quit claim deed for the parcel of land where the old depository resides to be transferred from Maxwell District to Meade School District 46-1. 

Background:  The third Monday of March is the time of year when local communities review with the Board of Equalization any contested property assessments.  The following board members represent the school district:  Terry Koontz, Sturgis Board of Equalization; Aaron Odegaard, Piedmont Board of Equalization; Charlie Wheeler, Summerset Board of Equalization and Justin Jutting, Whitewood Board of Equalization. The schedules follow below:
City of Sturgis - 3/20 @ 5:30 pm @ City Hall
City of Summerset - 3/20 @ 6:00 pm @ City Hall
City of Piedmont - 3/20 @ 6:30 pm @ City Hall
City of Whitewood - 3/20 @ 5:20 pm @ City Hall
 

Background:  All requests for Meade School District bus route changes for the 2023-24 school year must be submitted to the office of the superintendent by April 3, 2023. Requests that are received by the April 3 deadline will be submitted to the Board at its April board meeting. Those requests will then be referred to the transportation committee for review. Action on the bus route change requests will be taken by the Board at the August board meeting.

The following board members are on the Transportation Committee: Joe Urbaniak, Holly Good, Aaron Odegaard and Terry Koontz.

Background:  Mr. Wormstadt is proposing the district hold the Staff Reception and Recognition Banquet the morning of Thursday, May 25, at SBHS west gym as part of a teacher in-service make-up day. All staff and Board members will be present to participate in the banquet and the celebration would continue to be open to families and the public, with breakfast being served instead of dinner. When finished, the teachers would have building meetings and check out for the remainder of the day. 

The following board members are on the Employee Recognition Committee: Charlie Wheeler, Sandy Cass, Justin Jutting and Joe Urbaniak.

Background:  This is the First Reading of School Board Policy JECB: Admission of Non-Resident Students. The Policy Committee has reviewed the current policy which was combined with Policy JECC: Assignment of Resident Student. The committee recommends splitting policies for clarity.

Background:  This is the First Reading of School Board Policy JECC: Assignment of Resident Students. The Policy Committee has reviewed the current policy which was combined with Policy JECB: Assignment of Resident Student. The committee chose to split the two policies for clarity.

Background:  Board reports are enclosed in the Board packet.

Background: 
All Independent Custodial Contracts will be brought to the April board meeting to be discussed and approved.

Negotiations with Meade Education Association will begin on March 27th.  We held our prenegotiations meeting with MEA and it went well.

Legislative Update - If there is not a Veto by Governor Noem

General Education revenue increased by 7% per formula guidelines.

State Tax Levy 
Changes for School Districts total $12.117 lowered to $11.761 per thousand of taxable valuation and creates a net decrease of $0.356.

1. Ag Land was $1.362 and will be lowered to $1.32 per thousand of taxable valuation.

2. Owner Occupied was $3.048 and will be lowered to $2.954 per thousand of taxable valuation.

3. Other/business was $6.308 and will be lowered to $6.113 per thousand of taxable valuation

4. Special Education was $1.399 and will be lowered to $1.374 per thousand of taxable evaluation.

Note 1:  #1-3 We need to levy this amount or state aide is reduced.
Note 2:  #4 We did not levy the max this current year.

Background:  March 1 - First Day to Circulate School Board Nominating Petitions 
March 13 - Site visit to WW>SBHS
March 16 - Make-Up Snow Day
March 17 - No School (Spring Break)
March 28 - Deadline to Submit School Board Nominating Petitions
April 6 - Make-Up Snow Day
April 7 - No School (Easter Break)
April 10- Make-Up Snow Day

 

Background:  Meade school board will enter an executive session per SDCL 1-25-2.1, 1-25-2.4 and 1-25-2.6b,h.
1) Personnel
2) Negotiations
3) School Safety and Security