Brandon Valley School District Minutes
Brandon Valley School District
_________ Minutes _________
The regular meeting of the Brandon Valley Board of Education, Brandon, SD was held at 6:30 p.m. on the 25th of November, 2019 at the Brandon Valley High School Community Room with the following members present: Renee Ullom, Gregg Ode, Dan Klumper, and Gregg Talcott. Absent: Ellie Saxer. Also present were Superintendent Jarod Larson, Business Manager Paul J. Lundberg, High School Principal Mark Schlekeway, Assistant High School Principal Bill Freking, Activities Director Randy Marso, Middle School Principal Brad Thorson, Intermediate School Principal Nick Skibsted, Assistant Intermediate School Principal Rick Pearson, Fred Assam Elementary Principal Susan Foster, Director of Instruction Sherri Nelson, and Special Services Director Kyle Babb.
Renee Ullom called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Talcott, seconded by Klumper to approve the agenda as amended to change effective date of the resignation on Personnel Item number 1 to December 19, 2019. Motion carried.
Administrative reports were presented. Superintendent Larson reported that Brandon Valley will be hosting a Legislative Breakfast on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, in the George A. Gulson Administration Center Conference Room beginning at 7:30 a.m.
The 2020-21 academic school-year calendar development committee made up of the Administrative Council, Teacher Liaison Council, and the Classified Council has completed an initial draft with a tentative adoption time-line for the initial presentation on Monday, January 13, 2020 and the potential approval action on Monday, January 27, 2020 at the regularly scheduled Board of Education meetings.
Larson presented a land acquisition update with the south-side (Intermediate school site) transaction complete and the west-side (Elementary school site) has had a delayed closing and is now set for 12/16/2019.
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
The Brandon Valley School District Safety Committee distributed a public service announcement on 11/21/2019 highlighting communication on the following: Transportation Safety, Winter Weather Safety, Stranger Danger, Safe Gun Storage at Home, and the “See Something-Say Something” campaign. Brandon Valley will hold an all staff safety in-service on Friday January 10, 2020 for Classified Staff in the morning (7:45 to 11 a.m.) and for the Certified Staff in the afternoon (12:15 to 3:45 p.m.).
In the months to come, the following Good News Reports will be shared the second Board of Education meetings each month as follows: January – Brandon Valley High School; February - Brandon Valley Middle School; March – Brandon Valley Intermediate School; and April – Elementary schools.
The upcoming 2019-20 school year important dates to remember: no school on Wednesday-Friday, November 27-29 for the Thanksgiving Holiday break; 2-hour early dismissal on Friday, December 20, 2019; no school on Monday, December 23, 2019 through Wednesday, January 1, 2020 for Winter break. School resumes on Thursday, January 2, 2020. No school on Friday January 10, 2020 for a teacher Workshop/In-Service day; no school on Monday January 20, 2020 for a teacher In-Service day; no school on Friday, February 14 and Monday, February 17, 2020 for President’s day weekend.
Lastly, Superintendent Larson stated that he received a note of thanks from Todd Geerdes, on behalf of the Brandon Valley Education Association, formally thanking the Brandon Valley Board of Education for the recent salary enhancements that all staff received on their November, 2019 payroll. It is very much appreciated!
Business Manager Paul Lundberg presented the per pupil spending report for FY19 as tabulated by the South Dakota Department of Education. It compares the per pupil spending of School Districts throughout South Dakota. Brandon Valley ranks 142 out of 149 school districts. Brandon Valley still maintains an efficient utilization of the dollars that are allocated to us while still maintaining high levels of salary policies and programs. The Brandon Valley FY19 cost per pupil was $7,860 versus the state of South Dakota average of $9,369.
Motion by Klumper, seconded by Talcott to approve the following general business items:
1. Approve agreement by and between the Brandon Valley School District and Inter-Lakes Community Partnership Head Start Pre-birth to five program, as presented.
2. Accept the bid from Waste Management for garbage service at a cost of $3,125.27/month for 36 months, effective January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 as presented.
Motion carried.
Motion by Talcott, seconded by Ode to approve the following personnel items:
1. Approve resignation from Melinda Michels, HS English Language Learner Educational Assistant, effective December 19, 2019.
2. Approve recommendation to hire Cathi McGee, Substitute Bus/Van Driver, paid according to transportation trip schedule, effective November 26, 2019.
3. Approve recommendation to hire Ronald Paclik, Substitute Bus/Van Driver, paid according to transportation trip schedule, effective November 26, 2019.
4. Approve request for leave without pay for Becky Smith, part-time RBE Child Nutrition worker, effective January 13-16, 2020 as presented.
5. Approve recommendation to hire substitutes for the 2019-20 school year as follows: Lindsey Abens, Brandi Bauer, Nicole Durflinger, Makenzie Marso, and Taylor Thorson.
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 Stacy and Alex Wiese for the flowers sent in honor of the birth of their daughter, Cali.
Board Vice Chairperson Gregg Ode reported on a recent Transportation Committee meeting. The Committee is reviewing cost-efficiencies for the department with updates to follow in future meetings.
Board President Renee Ullom reported on Alternative Education. Teachwell has been very busy with all current programs as well as updating and starting some new programs. Along with that, the Business Manager has been mentoring students to which they have seen measurable success.
Motion by Klumper, seconded by Talcott to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 p.m. Motion carried.
Signed
Business Manager
Approved by the Board of Education this 9th day of December, 2019.
Signed
Chairperson
Published once at the approximate cost of $65.39
December 4, 2019
