Brandon Valley School District: Minutes
_________ Minutes _________
The regular meeting of the Brandon Valley Board of Education, Brandon, SD was held at 6:30 p.m. on the 27th of January, 2020 at the Brandon Valley High School Community Room with the following members present: Renee Ullom, Gregg Ode, Ellie Saxer, Dan Klumper, and Gregg Talcott. Absent: none. Also present were Superintendent Jarod Larson, Business Manager Paul J. Lundberg, High School Principal Mark Schlekeway, Middle School Principal Brad Thorson, Assistant Middle School Principal Amanda Nelson, Intermediate School Principal Nick Skibsted, Assistant Intermediate School Principal Rick Pearson, Special Services Director Kyle Babb, Director of Instruction Sherri Nelson, and Operations Manager Ty Hentschel.
Renee Ullom called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Saxer, seconded by Ode to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
The “Good News” report tonight was presented by High School Principal Mark Schlekeway and Instructor Natasha Wegner on a new program entitled Principles of Biomedical Science presented this year at the High School implemented by Project Lead the Way Program (a non-profit organization the provides transformative learning experiences for K-12 students in engineering, Computer Science, and Biomedical Science.) There are currently 85 sophomores and juniors enrolled in this class that are interested in exploring healthcare careers. The Biomedical Science Pathway leads from this first class of Principles of Biomedical Science to a class in Human Body Systems and finally Medical Interventions Internships. This program was started with a Carl Perkins Reserve Grant and we will apply for a similar grant next school year as well. The future looks bright for this new program!
Administrative reports were presented. Superintendent Larson presented a Legislative update. The Legislative session is now in-progress with the following important dates to note: 1) Large School Group meeting with Governor Noem was held on 1/24/2020; 2) a Legislative Coffee was held on 1/25/2020; 3) Brandon Day at the Legislature is scheduled for 1/29/2020 with HS and MS Student Council Members attending this year’s Brandon Day at the Legislature; 4) SASD/SDSSA Awards and Reception (to include a presentation to Business Manager Lundberg as the Outstanding Business Office Official of the year for the State of South Dakota) to be held on 2/5/2020; and 5) the ASBSD Awards/Legislative Day is scheduled for 2/18/2020 (which will include a presentation to President Renee Ullom as Outstanding School Board Member of the year for the State of South Dakota).
The South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS) is seeking a Board of Trustees position. Petition deadline is 2/24/2020. Contact Superintendent Larson if interested in a petition.
The Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) is seeking an Executive Board position and has set a Declaration of Candidacy date of 2/19/2020.
Larson outlined the Sparta Elementary School construction timeline as follows:
Fall 2019/Winter 2020: Construction planning meetings with Administration, Buildings and Grounds Committee, and Architect
February 2020: Bid the construction project
Spring 2020: Construction begins
Fall 2020: Elementary boundary line committee meets
2020-21 School year: Construction continues
Fall 2021: School opens
Kindergarten Screening registration is open. Contact your respective Elementary School for more information on how to register your student.
School Board Election for one (1) three (3) year seat will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 (if necessary). Earliest date to circulate a petition is April 7, 2020; deadline for return of petitions is May 8, 2020 (candidates must file a Financial Interest Statement within 15 days of filing a nominating petition. If you have any further questions regarding this process, please contact the Business Office.
The 2020-21 additional staffing requests will be reviewed and approved in late February with positions advertised in late February/early March with recommendations to hire to follow.
Tentative 2020-21 negotiations time-line/wage recommendations will begin with a pre-negotiations meeting between the BVSD Admin and the Brandon Valley Education Association (BVEA) sometime in March. The Personnel Welfare and BVEA will begin negotiations mid-March to early April. Tentatively, at the April 14, 2020 Board of Education regular meeting we will plan to ratify the 2020-21 Master Contract, approve Classified wage recommendation/approve Administration Salary recommendations and enter into Superintendent contract negotiations.
The 2020-21 Budget process is underway with budget forms/documents distributed on January 6, 2020. The Business Office will compile and review by March 2020. In February 2020, we will present the 5-year plan. In March 2020, the preliminary capital Outlay budget will be presented for approval in order for major items to be bid in a timely manner. In May 2020, we will hold a preliminary budget presentation and in July 2020, we will hold the public budget hearing for potential action.
In the months to come, the following Good News Reports will be shared the second Board of Education meetings each month as follows: February - Brandon Valley Middle School; March – Brandon Valley Intermediate School; and April – Elementary schools
On Monday, January 20, 2020, Brandon Valley conducted a school-wide safety training in-service for Classified and Certified Staff. Carrol Institute presented on Substance Use Trends and Social Media Trends in our young people, along with drawing upon the program entitled “Stop the Bleed.” High School Principal Mark Schlekeway discussed the District Reunification plan, and we also had Situational Supervision presented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to help empower our staff on how to supervise students. Thank you to all who helped coordinate this training in-service for our entire staff.
The upcoming 2019-20 school year important dates to remember: no school on Friday, February 14 and Monday, February 17, 2020 for President’s day weekend; Parent-Teacher conferences for the 2nd semester will be held on Monday, March 16, 2020 for the Elementary schools and the High School and on Tuesday, March 17, 2020
for the Intermediate and Middle School; school WILL BE in session on Thursday, March 19, 2020 (flood day make up); no school on Friday, March 20, 2020 as a teacher comp day; new last day of school is now scheduled for Friday May 22nd with the teacher Workshop day rescheduled to Tuesday, May 26, 2020. A formal calendar amendment will be forthcoming in a future regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting.
Board member Ellie Saxer made a public declaration that she will be filing a petition for the upcoming open Board of Education seat. In addition, she also made a public declaration that she will be filing a petition for the Associated School Board of South Dakota (ASBSD) Executive Board position as well.
The Following Board Policies were presented at tonight’s meeting for a final reading:
1. File KGC: Tobacco-Free School Policy
2. File FF: Facilities Planning and Development – Naming Facilities
Motion by Ode, seconded by Saxer to approve the policies as presented. Motion carried.
Superintendent Jarod Larson reported on the proposed 2020-21 school year calendar. This calendar has been through a review with the Administration, Teacher Liaison Committee, and the Classified Council and is consistent and corresponding to the previous year school year calendar. Important dates to highlight are August 12, 2020 as new staff in-service, August 13, 2020 with all new staff returning. Wednesday, August 19, 2020 is the scheduled first day of classes and Wednesday, May 19, 2021 as the last day of classes for all BV students. Brandon Valley High School graduation is schedule for Sunday, May 16, 2021. Motion by Talcott, seconded by Klumper to approve the 2020-21 Brandon Valley School District calendar as presented. Motion carried.
Motion by Saxer, seconded by Talcott to approve the following general business item:
1. Accept the Independent Auditor’s Report for Fiscal Year 2019 as presented.
Motion carried.
Motion by Saxer, seconded by Klumper to approve the following personnel items:
1. Approve retirement notice from Roxie Rauk, BE Title I Tutor, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year.
2. Approve recommendation to hire John Sjaarda, Substitute Bus/Van Driver, paid according to 2019-20 trip schedule, effective January 28, 2020.
3. Accept resignation from Tom Pierce, BVIS Night Custodian, effective January 23, 2020.
4. Accept resignation from Joel Keyman, Grounds Department, effective February 7, 2020.
5. Approve resignation from Sierra Hansen, BE Special Education Educational Assistant, effective January 23, 2020.
6. Approve recommendation to hire Brandi Bauer, BE Special Education Educational Assistant, full-time, $14.75/hour, effective January 28, 2020.
7. Approve recommendation to hire Nicole Durflinger, BE Special Education Educational Assistant, full-time, $14.75/hour, effective January 28, 2020.
8. Approve recommendation to hire Brenda Lape, BVHS Child Nutrition, full-time, $13.70/hour, effective January 28, 2020.
9. Approve recommendation to hie Kristi Harkin, BVHS Child Nutrition, part-time, $13.70/hour, effective January 28, 2020.
10. Approve recommendation to hire Debra David, CNS Substitute, $12.00/hour, effective January 28, 2020.
11. Accept resignation from Kevin Brick, BVHS Musical Director, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year, contingent upon finding a suitable replacement.
12. Approve recommendation to hire substitutes for the 2019-20 school year as follows: Riley Frantzen, Meredith Jenkins, and Rebecca Long.
Motion carried.
Communications that were received by the Central Office and the Board of Education was reviewed. They included the following item:
1. Thank you from Sandy Cummings for the plant sent in memory of her mother, Diane Rebnord.
2. Thank you from Melissa Garrow for the staff safety training.
3. Thank you from the Halseth family for the plant sent in memory of Denny Halseth.
4. Thank you from the Clausen family for the plant sent in memory of Susan Shea.
Board Vice Chairperson Gregg Ode reported on a recent Transportation Committee meeting. The Committee is reviewing the sustainability of the current policies and procedures as our school district continues to grow. We have some great plans to makes things work more efficiently and smoothly. The Brandon Valley School District Transportation Department will hold open house opportunities to parents and patrons to participate in the new vision and growth opportunities that are on the horizon.
Board President Renee Ullom, along with Board member Gregg Talcott reported Alternative Education. Teachwell has recently purchased a new building for future growth. Grants have been awarded for this expansion.
Motion by Klumper, seconded by Talcott to adjourn the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Motion carried.
Signed
Business Manager
Approved by the Board of Education this 10th day of February, 2020.
Signed
Chairperson
Published once at the approximate cost of $107.76
February 12, 2020
