July 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting (New Board)

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt will administer the oath of office to Timothy Amdahl.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt, will conduct the election for the School Board President per School Board Policy BCA. The Board President will assume office and will conduct the election for the Vice President. Superintendent Wormstadt will preside during the election of the school board president.  

Background:  The following items may be approved as consent items within one motion.  For each one, the present status of the item will be given and comment.  Any individual board member may ask to have items removed for action as a single item under Agenda (Item 6) Organizational Items.

Background:  Regular meeting time is 5:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the board room of the Williams Administrative Building. We suggest the following board meeting be moved:

• October 13 board meeting be moved to October 14 as there is no school for students and staff to observe Native American Day.

Background:  The present distribution of our accounts: Payroll/Checking, Trust and Agency/Brown High School, and Trust and Agency/Williams Middle School at First Interstate Bank; Trust and Agency/Central Administration and Advanced Payments at First Interstate Bank; Trust and Agency/Central Administration (Scholarships) at First Interstate Bank; QZAB Bonds and CDs at Pioneer Bank and Trust. The recommendation would be to keep the accounts the same for the 2025-26 school year.

Background:  Brett Burditt is business manager and custodian of General Fund, Capital Outlay Fund, Special Education Fund, Food Service Fund, Trust and Agency Fund/Sturgis Brown High School, Trust and Agency Fund/Sturgis Williams Middle School, and Trust and Agency Fund/Central Administration. He also should be authorized to invest district funds pursuant to Board Policy DI, electronically transfer funds for specifically authorized purposes, and to borrow funds with Board approval.

Background:  This authorizes the business manager to move funds electronically between CD's, investments, savings, checking and pay through ACH methods in order to meet district obligations.

Background:  Black Hills Pioneer has been the district’sofficial local newspaper and is the district’s legal newspaper. Legal publications will also be published in the Faith Independent newspaper.

Background:  Brett Burditt is business manager and authorized to file all state and federal grant claims: Comprehensive School Reform, Title I, Title II Part A, IDEA 611/619, Title IV, Perkins Grant, and all other approved grant claims.

Background:  It is recommended that the new Board adopt the policies of the old Board as a formality so that there can be no question that existing Board policies are still in effect.  This does not prevent the new Board from changing policies during the year.  

Board Policy BBAA establishes that a majority of the Board constitutes a quorum to transact business.  The Board should also establish a minimum number of votes for passage of board action. The standard number for a nine (9) member board is five (5) members for a quorum. The majority of the quorum present shall be established as the minimum number of votes necessary for Board action, unless otherwise noted in SDCL or board policy.

Background:  Rhonda Ramsdell is recommended to be the authorized representative for school food service.

Background:  Authorize all building principals as truancy officers for the district.

Background:  The federal compliance coordinators should be appointed:  ADA Compliance and Asbestos-Brett Burditt; Section 504-Melisssa Pankratz; Age Discrimination Act, Titles VI and IX-Maranda McGillivray.

Background:  Authorize membership for the 2025-26 school year in Associated School Boards of South Dakota.

Background:  The district has used Eric Nies, Nies & Karras, P.C. as legal counsel for the 2024-25 school year. Recommendation would be to continue to use Eric Nies, Nies & Karras, P.C. as legal counsel for the 2025-26 school year.

The district has used Christian Shafer, Ratwik, Roszak & Moloney, P.A. as legal counsel for special education items. Recommendation would be to continue to use Christian Shafer, Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. as legal counsel for special education items for the 2025-26 school year.

Background:  School boards have the right to designate which school board member or members, in addition to the school board president, have the authority to countersign checks drawn by the business manager.

Currently, board member Terry Koontz is authorized to countersign checks in the absence of the school board president. The board may choose to retain Terry in this role or appoint a different member to assume this responsibility.

Background:  State law entitles Board members to receive up to the same salary as that received by the State Board of Education Standards.  The amount has been raised to $166.00 per day.

Currently, the salary for board members is $100.00 per meeting and $75.00 per committee meeting.  The Board has been paid mileage for committee meetings not held on regular Board meeting nights and  for meetings scheduled by the superintendent and/or board president that are not held on board meeting nights.  The maximum per day payment for meetings may not exceed $166.00.

Background:  The district uses state rates for lodging, meals, and mileage, except when staff members cannot obtain lodging at state rates, the actual room cost will be reimbursed. Meal and mileage rates are aligned to the state rates and will be adjusted accordingly to when the state changes rates. There were no changes from last year's rates. 

Out-of-State Travel	Rate	In-State Travel	Rate
Breakfast	$10.00	Breakfast	$6.00
Lunch	$18.00	Lunch	$14.00
Dinner	$28.00	Dinner	$20.00
Rooms	$175.00	Rooms	$107.00
Mileage	$.655	Mileage	$.655

Background:  State statute change dictates we must list and approve the prepaid vendors list.  In the list we have authorized emergency services for critical functions to be approved (example: waterline, sewerline, HVAC, etc.). 

Background:  The stipend schedule for teachers who provide additional services is included. The rates for substitute teaching are also included in this schedule.  

Background:  State law requires that the Board publish the salaries of all school district employees on an annual basis. 

Superintendent Wormstadt and Business Manager Burditt's salaries will be added to this per the board decision from the previous "Old Board" agenda item.

Background:  Extracurricular coaches and volunteer coaches will be updated monthly. Any changes will be highlighted in yellow.

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:  Food Service Director, Rhonda Ramsdell, is requesting the Board approve the proposed food service meal prices for the 2025-26 school year. 

	Current	Recommended for 2025-26
KG - 8th Grade	$3.30	$3.65
9th - 12th Grade	$3.60	$3.95

Student breakfast price will remain at $2.00 for all students. 
Adult lunch prices will increase to $5.50 and adult breakfast will increase to $3.00 for breakfast.

Background:  The Board will need to select a BHSSC representative and alternate. Terry Koontz served as representative for Black Hills Special Services Co-op. 

Background:  Meade School District has worked in collaboration with West River Mental Health to provide services. The WRMH Family Pathways program is a fee-for-service program which is paid by families utilizing the services. The MOU outlines the terms of the agreements for services provided at all district building locations.

Background:  For the 2025-26 school year, ABC’s Project SUCCESS coordinator will be placed part-time at Sturgis Williams Middle School, Stagebarn Middle School and/or Sturgis Brown High School.  Project SUCCESS will provide prevention, intervention services and outpatient services for students.  

Background:  The South Dakota Legislature requires school boards in both the receiving school district and the resident school district to approve pick-up/drop-off locations for students within any incorporated municipality.  The Spearfish School District is requesting to continue the current bus stop location on Sherman Street in Whitewood. Meade School District is requesting to continue with five stops within the Rapid City Area Schools and to continue with the one stop at Plainview Hall with the Faith School District. 

Background:  The Meade School District Food Service participates in a buying group, RCLDM (Rapid City Lead-Deadwood Meade). The buying group has agreed to roll over the prime vendor agreement with Cashwa Distributing for the 2025-26 school year. 

Background:  Harlow’s submitted their contract rates with a 3.0% increase effective July 1, 2025. The letter outlines the per mile and hour rate for the activity busing, requested field trips, downtime rate, second driver and meals and cancelation policy. 

Background:  Property and liability insurance costs continue to rise, with a combined premium increase of 15.2%, or $83,161.77, from CRC and EMC. EMC no longer provides coverage for eight of our buildings, which are now insured through CRC. Additionally, we continue to buy down the wind and hail deductible for Piedmont Valley Elementary and Sturgis Elementary due to their EFIS siding.

This upward trend in premiums is expected to continue. As a result, we are exploring the option of self-insuring some buildings for the 2026-27 school year. While this approach could reduce overall premium costs, it would require maintaining adequate reserve funds to cover potential claims.

Background:  Superintendent, Wayne Wormstadt recommends the Board approve Horace Mann as the Third Party Administrator (TPA) utilizing Health Equity to manage the FSA, HSA, and Dependent Care accounts offered to employees through payroll deduction. By selecting Horace Mann as the TPA in partnership with Health Equity, employees will also gain the option to contribute to a 403(b) retirement plan through payroll deduction. Final paperwork and contractual documents will be completed and signed at a later date.

Legal counsel, Eric Nies, has reviewed the arrangement and confirmed that this qualifies as a professional services contract, which does not require a formal bid process.

The district’s cost will be up to $100 per month if fewer than 40 employees choose to participate in the 403(b) plan.

Background:  Superintendent, Wayne Wormstadt is recommending the board approve to amend the academic calendars to include staff development time during the contract day through scheduled late starts. Additionally, the early release day is designated for staff to participate in an emergency planning walkthrough, focusing on evacuation and reunification procedures.

Background:  Each year, the district enters into cooperative agreements with Black Hills Special Services Cooperative to provide services such as speech-language pathology, physical therapy, and vocational education/job development. The agreement for the upcoming year will be in effect from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Background:  Superintendent, Wayne Wormstadt and Business Manager, Brett Burditt are requesting the Board to accept the agreement from the City of Sturgis in the amount of $67,500.00 for the Woodle Field Lot of Northside Addition.

Background:  Superintendent, Wayne Wormstadt is requesting the Board to accept the contract from KLH Consulting, LLC. for school psychology services as outlined in the agreement. Supervision for in house teacher to psychologist (Sunny Pierson) is required for degree completion.  This is the second teacher we are working with in obtaining school psychology certification with our previous being Amy Conover. 

Background:  The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Summerset Police Department has been updated and is ready for approval for the 2025-26 school year. 

Background:  Per Policy BFC: Board Policy Development and Adoption, if a situation occurs where the policy revisions are editorial in nature, are not substantive, or when changes are specified and mandated by federal or state law, the Board may waive the Second and Third Reading and adopt the revised policy effective immediately.

ASBSD has amended Policy BD with the new requirement in state law that school boards annually review the state's open meetings law. The Attorney General's office indicated that the Conducting the Public's Business in Public brochure be distributed and reviewed by board members. The new state law also requires the school board to include this review in the minutes.

Background:  ASBSD has amended Policy KLB with the new requirement in state law that changes the time period for a school materials challenge to one calendar year from three years. The change is proposed to address the continually used argument against schools in the legislature that the time period for challenges is too long. Also notes the decision of the superintendent or school board is final unless it is overturned by a judicial review, which was added to state law by the legislature.

Both district policies KLB(1) and KLB(2) have been updated to reflect the changes.

Background:  ASBSD has amended Policy IIAC with the new requirement in state law that changes the time period for a school materials challenge to one calendar year from three years. The change is proposed to address the continually used argument against schools in the legislature that the time period for challenges is too long. Also notes the decision of the superintendent or school board is final unless it is overturned by a judicial review, which was added to state law by the legislature.

Background:  ASBSD has recently updated Policy BDDG. While this policy is not currently in place within our district, the policy committee recommends the Board adopt the policy for implementation. 

Background:  ASBSD has recently updated Policy JEA. While this policy is not currently in place within our district, the policy committee recommends the Board adopt the policy for implementation. 

Background:  ASBSD has recently updated Policy JEG. While this policy is not currently in place within our district, the policy committee recommends the Board adopt the policy for implementation. 

Background:  ASBSD has recently updated Policy ECABB. While this policy is not currently in place within our district, the policy committee recommends the Board adopt the policy for implementation. 

Background:  The elected Board President will be responsible for making committee assignments. Attached are the standing committees for 2024-25, along with the committee preferences of the 2025-26 board members.

Recommendation to keep committees as currently appointed until new Board Chair has time to align new committees for the August board meeting.
2025-26 School Board Committee Interest Survey

Background:  The transportation committee and Harlow's are in the process of reviewing received bus route change requests. The transportation committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29 at 5:00 pm.

Background:  The study session and work retreats will need to be scheduled per School Board Policy BDB: School Board Study Sessions and Work Retreats.

Background:  Superintendent, Mr. Wormstadt recommends scheduling Gavel training as a special board meeting in September. The board will need to discuss and determine an appropriate date and time.

Background:  The board will discuss and review the process for reducing the projected General Fund deficit in FY26 by planning for corrections in FY27 and FY28. 

This will be outline and order of items we will review this fall.

Background:  SDCL 13-8-19 Approval and filing of bonds: requires school business managers to be bonded, with the specific amount of the bond determined and approved by the school board and filed with the county auditor.

Background:  ASBSD & SASD Joint Convention will be held Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The new school board member workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, August 6.

Background:  Jenny Voight, Meade County 4-H Youth Program Advisor, invites the board and the public to attend the Meade County Fair, held July 25-26 near SBHS.
She is also seeking volunteers for a few fun opportunities:

• Servers for the free BBQ on Friday evening from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
• Dunk tank volunteers at the following times:
  • Friday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday at 2:45 p.m.

Those interested, please contact Jenny Voight at Jennifer.Voigt@sdstate.edu or call (605) 423-3515.

Background:  Back to School Ellsworth Air Force Base July 26th 
Jr. Legion

Report on AASA Governing Board meeting

Attending State Superintendent Conference July 21-23

 

Background:  July 28: B&G Committee Meeting @3:30 pm
July 28: Policy Committee Meeting @ 5:00 pm
July 29: Finance Committee Meeting @ 3:30 pm
July 29: Transportation Committee Meeting @ 5:00 pm
August 6-8: ASBSD/SASD Convention, Sioux Falls