May 8, 2023 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting at 5:30 pm

Background:  The April 10, 2023 regular board meeting minutes need to be amended to show changes from Vig: Yea and Spring: Yea to Vig: Nay and Spring: Nay for (Item 9h) School Board Petitions and Vacant Seat.

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

New Hire (Certificated): Renee Stevens, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, $48,000.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Avery Middleton, teacher, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $48,000.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Kaitlyn Hoppe, teacher, Sturgis Elementary, $48,000.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Julie Bernard, special education teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $63,017.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Sandrine Brink, teacher, Central Meade Co. School, .5 FTE, $26,078.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Tonya Mullaney, special education teacher, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $67,107.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Emily Hill, special education teacher, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $48,000.00. eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Vanessa Bridges, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, $55,118.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Susan Ostenson, teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $55,118.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Kerry Spring-Schraeder, teacher, Central Meade Co. School, .5 FTE, $24,000.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Kate Bash, special education teacher, Sturgis Elementary, $48,000.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Sherrie Kafka, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, $63,146.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Brittany Delzer, teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $48,000.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Robert Flock, special education teacher, $59,188.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

New Hire (Support Staff): Hadlee Kronmiller, administrative assistant, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $16.00/hr, eff. 4/24/2023.

Change of Assignment (Certificated): Melissa Pankratz, teacher, Sturgis Elementary to assistant special education director, $67,829.00, eff. 7/1/2023; Amy Conover, special education teacher to psychological intern, district-wide, $73,230.00, eff. 8/22/2023.

Change From Hourly to Exempt Contracted Staff: Lisa Symonds, accountant/payroll, business office, $23.27/hr to $53,000.00, eff. 7/1/2023; Maranda McGillivray, human resources department, business office, $24.98/hr to $56,500.00, eff. 7/1/2023. Note: Both positions qualify to be exempt salaried positions.

Change in Hourly Rate (Support Staff): Kristin Horton, food service worker, Stagebarn Middle School, step-up to level I, $15.00/hr to $15.20/hr, eff. 5/1/2023.

New Hire (Extracurricular): Katherine O'Boyle, assistant jv/c volleyball coach, Sturgis Brown High School, $3,691.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year; Avery Middleton, assistant jv/c volleyball coach, Sturgis Brown High School, $3,691.00, eff. beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

Contract Amendment (Extracurricular): Grace Steinley, student council, Stagebarn Middle School, .5 FTE, $354.72, eff. 3/23/2023.

Resignation (Certificated): Meghan Kvernum, teacher, Piedmont Valley Elementary, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Josie Brown, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Joe Wiliams, assistant principal, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year.

Resignation (Support Staff): Delaney Smith, paraprofessional, Opal Elementary, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Lizet Lewis, playground/lunchroom supervisor, Sturgis Elementary, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year.

Resignation (Extracurricular): Taylor Jordan, student council advisor, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Stephanie Paget, assistant special Olympics coach, district-wide, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year; Shane Whidby, head 8th grade basketball coach, Sturgis Williams Middle School, eff. end of the 2022-23 school year.

Background:  Community members who have volunteered to work in schools throughout the district: None have been presented.

Background:  The SDHSAA Resolution authorizes membership and ratifies the Constitution, By-Laws, and rules of the South Dakota High School Activities Association as of July 1, 2023, thru June 30, 2024, and agrees to conduct its activities programs within the framework of these instruments. 

Background:  The District has identified items that are in poor condition and not being used by the district and should be declared surplus. 

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 May is "Integrity," which involves honesty, honor, reliability, and standing up for one’s beliefs.

Background:  Two SBHS students received perfect scores on their college entrance exams, senior, Beck Bruch on the ACT, and junior, Martin Jones on the ASVAB test.

Background:  Sturgis Brown High School FCCLA group did a great job at the South Dakota State FCCLA Convention that was held April 23-25 in Sioux Falls.

One group qualified for the National FCCLA, which will be held in Denver this summer. The group received three Top Honor golds, two additional golds and three silvers. 

Background:  National Teacher Appreciation Week is Monday, May 8 - Friday, May 12. 
Take the time this week to say "Thank You" to the exceptional teachers we have in the Meade School District.

Background:  Thank you to Sanford Lab staff members for hosting the rural schools STEAM night on April 11 at Central Meade Co. School and to Cammack Ranch Supply for their pizza donation.

Background:  The state convention was held from April 16 -18 in Brookings. The members representing Sturgis FFA did an amazing job in their contests. SBHS senior, Abbie Culver also received her State FFA Degree.

Background:  The SBHS Culinary Arts team attended the National ProStart Culinary Competition in Washington DC last week. Team members include: Eva Jensen, Cami Lurz, Isaiah Baker, Morgan Littleton and Tyler Briscoe.

Background:  The Meade School District successfully completed the South Dakota Department of Education requirements set forth by the state as an accredited school district in South Dakota. 

Background:  District social worker, Abbie Waitman and Behavior Analyst, Noelle Jacobs will provide a brief presentation on the SD Handle with Care Program.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt will present the Preliminary Budget for FY24. 

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

Background:  Handle with Care is a program that enables local law enforcement to notify school districts when they encounter a child at a traumatic scene. The Meade School District 46-1 is requesting the Board to approve partnerships with the Whitewood Police Department, Sturgis Police Department and Whitewood Elementary. The MOU's are attached for your review.

Background:  Special Services Director, Chrissy Peterson is requesting the Board enter into an agreement with SN Psych Associates, LLC (Stephanie Nesselhuf) to provide psychological evaluations/testing and psychometrics needs to the Meade School District. Services provided are outlined in the attached agreement.

Background:  The Board will need to review the draft of the school board vacancy application and make a decision on whether they want to hold the interviews open to the public or in a closed session.

Background:  All employees under the Administrator Agreement will receive a 5% increase on their base wage effective July 1, 2023.  Also, the language in the agreement in regard to leave buyback will increase from $100.00/day to $150.00/day for the buyback rate, also effective July 1, 2023.

Background:  The District will be offering the professional technical support staff a 5% increase effective July 1, 2023. The starting wage for special education paraprofessionals in self-contained classrooms will increase from $15.00/hr to $17.00/hr. Paraprofessionals in mild to moderate special education classrooms will increase from $14.00/hr to $16.00/hr. Any employee under those starting wages will be bumped to these wages.Changes to the Professional Technical Support Staff Handbook will be presented at the July board meeting.

Background:  The public hearing on the proposed preliminary budget for FY23-24 will be held on Monday, June 12 at 6:00 pm during the regularly scheduled board meeting at the Williams Administrative Building boardroom. Business Manager, Brett Burditt will answer questions or concerns the Board may have.

Background:  Meade School District applies for a waiver from certain administrative rules that govern school accreditation. Sturgis Williams Middle School and Stagebarn Middle School waivers are set to expire July 1 and will be re-applying for a five-year waiver so that the district may offer Algebra I to students below grade nine for high school credit. 

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt is requesting the Board amend the FY22-23 capital outlay budget by $64,750.00 to start the SWMS Network Improvement Project in June of 2023.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt is requesting the Board amend the Special Education budget by $60,654.00 for 1 FTE school nurse.

Background:  Every year, the preliminary budget is to be published after the May board meeting. Attached is the preliminary budget for the board’s review. 

Background:  This is the third and final reading of School Board Policy JECB: Open Enrollment. The committee has changed the number for kindergarten students from 20 to 19 and 4th grade students from 23 to 24. This policy will be separated from Policy JECC: Assignments of Students to Schools.

Background:  This is the third and final reading of School Board Policy JECC: Assignment of Students to Schools. This policy will be separated from Policy JECB: Open Enrollments.

Background:  SBHS Principal, Pete Wilson updated the Board on the current procedure with BHOLL for students at the high school and middle school level that wish to attend school virtually at the March board meeting. The district recommends moving towards online virtual learning as an option for medical reasons or special circumstances only. 

Background:  In addition to the budget, it is necessary for the Board to determine the tax request to be made to the County Auditor. The maximum levies for the General Fund are determined each year by law. Business Manager, Brett Burditt is requesting the Board to approve a levy request of $6,250,000.00 for capital outlay due to increased costs for items, save for future and preparation for school security work next year and into the future.

Background:  This is the First Reading of School Board Policy JFCL: Student Registered Sex Offenders.

Background:  This is the First Reading of School Board Policy JECAA: Students Enrolling From Alternative Instruction and Unaccredited Schools

Background:  Board reports are enclosed in the Board packet.

Background:  May 8 - Rural Site Visit
May 8 - School Board Meeting (executive session prior)
May 24 - Last Day of School - 2 hour early release
May 25 - Staff Retirement & Recognition Banquet - breakfast