April 10, 2023 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting

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

New Hire (Certificated): Sara Bakke, special education teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, $52,817.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Courtney Pitsor, teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, $10,870.00, eff. 3/27/2023; Carrie Barnes, special education teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $49,270.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Stran Holben, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, $45,000.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Coleman Johnson, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, $45,250.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Alexa Buckley, teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, $45,000.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

New Hire (Support Staff): Sally Rath, food service, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $14.25/hr. eff. 3/20/2023; Sheri Cranmore, capable kids coordinator, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $16.00/hr. eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Heather Holly, library paraprofessional, Stagebarn Middle School, $15.00/hr. eff. 3/27/2023; August Bowman, computer technician, district-wide, $16.50/hr. eff. 4/3/2023; Barbara Green, paraprofessional, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $15.00/hr. eff. 4/3/2023.

New Hire (Extracurricular): Taylor Trohkimoinen, assistant cross-country coach, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $1,998.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Stran Holben, FFA advisor, Sturgis Brown High School, $5,186.00, eff, beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Coleman Johnson, assistant JV/C football coach, Sturgis Brown High School, $3,697.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

Change of  Assignment (Extracurricular): Kristi Cammack, assistant cross-country coach to head cross-country coach, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $2,434.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year. 

Change of Assignment (SupportStaff): Jenna Whitman, administrative assistant, $15.00/hr. to joint administrative assistant, Stagebarn Middle School, $15.50/hr. eff. 3/20/2023; Megan Burgner, library paraprofessional $14.00/hr. to joint administrative assistant, Stagebarn Middle School, $15.50/hr. eff. 3/20/2023.

Resignation (Certificated): Amanda Ladwig, special education teacher, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Tawny Witty, special education teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Jessica Henrichsen, teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, eff. 3/1/2023; Amy Flohr, teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Lily Swanson, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Sarah Lewis, special education teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Kim Peterson, special education teacher, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year.

Resignation (Support Staff): Cheryl McClain, special education paraprofessional, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Jessica Deering, administrative assistant, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Timothy Hughes, maintenance, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. 3/24/2023.

Resignation (Extracurricular): Pat West, head football coach, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. 3/23/2023; Ian Walton, assistant basketball coach, Stagebarn Middle School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year.

Background:  The business office is requesting the Board approve the participation in the ASBSD Protective Trust Worker’s Compensation pool for the 2023-24 school year.   

Background:  The business office is requesting the Board to approve the participation in the ASBSD health insurance pool for the 2023-24 school year.  

Background:  Community members who have volunteered to work in schools throughout the district: Mica Sulzbach-Bataille, mentor ProStart Culinary Invitational, Sturgis Brown High School; Jennifer Opbroek, Piedmont Valley Elementary; parent/class volunteer; Alicia Redinger, volunteer at Sturgis Williams Middle School.

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 April is "Honesty," which involves being sincere, telling the truth, keeping one’s word, and trustworthiness.

Background:  SBHS senior, Reese Jacobs was named the Class A Wrestler of the Year and finished 52-0 this season and won a third consecutive state title for Sturgis. 

Background:  Congrats to Coach Hilton on being voted Region 4 Boys Assistant Coach of the year.

Background:  Congratulations to Bryce Leonhardt, Sturgis Williams Middle School, for receiving the SDWCA Award for 2023 Junior High Coach of the Year.

Congratulations to Mike Abell, Sturgis Brown High School, for receiving the Class A Region Coach of the Year. 

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt will provide a brief presentation on the preliminary capitol outlay budget. Rhonda Ramsdell will provide a brief presentation on the Food Service budget.

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

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt is requesting the Board to issue a contract to Loose Endz Cleaning for cleaning services at Sturgis Elementary. The contract would begin 7/1/2023 and terminate 6/30/2024 for the same amount of $151,240.88 to be paid equally in twelve monthly payments.  

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt is recommending the Board accept the bid from Loose Endz Cleaning in the amount of $98,800.00 and issue a contract for custodial services at Piedmont Valley Elementary for FY23-24.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt is recommending the Board accept the bid from Visible Difference in the amount of $159,105.00 and issue a contract for custodial services at Stagebarn Middle School for FY23-24.

Background:  Mr. Wormstadt and Activities Director, Mike Schultz are requesting the Board approve a one-year professional services agreement with Sports Ticket Live, a web-based organization that operates in radio broadcasting and live streaming of school sports. The agreement will automatically renew for a one-year period unless written notice to terminate the agreement is given at least 30 days prior to the expiration date.

Background:  The district received the 2023-24 contract agreement between Meade 46-1 and the Central Meade Co. Community Center. There is no change to the terms of the contract.  

Background:  Harlow’s submitted their contract rates and there will be a 13.0% increase effective July 1, 2024, and not to exceed 5.0% for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. The new rate for general transportation for the 2023-24 school year will be $1,473,747.00. The letter outlines the per mile and hour rate for the activity busing, requested field trips, downtime rate, second driver and meals and cancellation policy. 

Background:  The terms of office for Holly Good, Joseph Urbaniak and Darrell Vig will expire this year. Two petitions for candidacy for the Meade School Board were filed on Tuesday, March 28 by incumbent, Darrell Vig and Megan Snyder. As a result, there will not be an election. The Board will need to make a decision on how they will select the person to appoint for a one-year term. Options include per SDCL 13-8-22 and 13-8-25: 

1. One of two board members who are not running stays on for a one-year term. 
2. The board may or may not ask previous board members to be appointed for one-year. 
3. The board sets the application process and timeline.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt, is recommending the Board accept the low bid of $221,000.00 from Climate Control for the Whitewood Elementary HVAC Upgrades Project and the authorization to issue a contract with Climate Control. 

Background:  The business office is requesting the Board approve the ASBSD Health Plan options 2, 3, and 8 for 2023-24.  The premiums for the district health plans increased by 6% for FY24. This is a $33.00 increase per month for plan members. This rate increase is predicated by a very high claim cost to premium collected ration, known as experience rate. The Insurance Committee approved this recommendation at the March 28 committee meeting.

Background:  The district is requesting to issue teacher contracts for the 2023-24 school year under the proposed 2023-24 terms of the MEA Negotiated Agreement. If the negotiated agreement is not finalized, the district will issue contracts based on the 2022-23 agreement and new contracts will be issued when the 2023-24 agreement is finalized. 

Background:  According to the 2023-24 negotiated salary and benefits for administrators, administrators will be notified no later than February 1st of the board’s intent to renew their contract.  

Brett Burditt, Business Manager	David Olson, Stagebarn MS Principal
Pete Wilson, SBHS Principal	Amanda Christensen, Asst Stagebarn MS/Asst PVE Principal
Joe Williams, SBHS Asst Principal	Ethan Dschaak, PVE Principal
Coleen Keffeler, SBHS Asst Principal	Chad Hedderman, SWMS Principal
Katy Jutting, Asst SWMS/Asst SES Prinicipal	Brit Porterfield, .5 FTE WW Principal
Sarah Scherer, .5 FTE Rural Principal	Chrissy Peterson, Special Services Director
Chantal Ligtenberg, SES Principal	Beth Johnson, Curr./Tech. Coordinator
Mike Schultz, Activities - district-wide

Background:  The last day of school for students is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24. The district is proposing a 2-hour early release for that day.

Currently, staff members will return on Thursday, May 25 for the staff reception and recognition banquet as part of a teacher in-service make-up day . When finished, teachers will have building meetings and check out for the remainder of the day.

School was closed on April 4 and 5 due to weather.  The School Board will need to decide whether or not these days will be made up and set the last day for students and staff.

Background:  Mr. Wormstadt is asking three Board members to volunteer and assist him to present the Facility Master Plan that Arch, Inc has provided to the district at the following locations; Stagebarn Middle School, Sturgis Williams Middle School and Central Meade Co. School. The presentations will take place later in April. Dates and presentation times will be decided on at the April board meeting.

Background:  All requests for Meade School District bus route changes for the 2023-24 school year were to be submitted by Monday, April 3. The requests are being reviewed by the transportation committee and Harlow's for their recommendations. Action on the requests will be taken by the Board at the August board meeting. 

Background:  This is the second reading of School Board Policy JECB: Admission of Non-Resident Students.

Background:  This is the second reading of School Board Policy JECC: Assignment of Resident Students.

Background:  The Board is scheduled for a site visit to the rural schools on Monday, May 8. Mr. Wormstadt is planning to depart from the administrative building at 8:00 a.m. Please let the superintendent's office know if you will be carpooling or driving separately. Schools will be visited in the following order:  Hereford, Elm Springs, Union Center, Opal, Atall and then return to Sturgis.

Background:  The district completed the Title I desk audit with no issues. Thank you, Mrs. Peterson and the Title I staff. 

Background:  Board reports are enclosed in the Board packet.

Background:  April 7 - No School - Easter
April 10 - Make-Up Snow Day
April 15 - SBHS Prom
April 24 - B&G Committee Meeting
April 24 - Policy Committee Meeting
May 8 - Rural Site Visit
May 8 - School Board Meeting