School board begins bond election discussion

The Brandon Valley School District is tentatively planning to stage a bond election for a new elementary school on Sept. 10.

At its April 23 meeting, the school board heard from Supt. Dr. Jarod Larson on the timeline for the district’s fifth elementary school, to be built on school-owned land at W. 41st St. and Sparta Ave. in Sioux Falls. 

The board will look at passing a resolution to authorize a bond election at its July reorganizational meeting and focus on an informational campaign in the late summer, Larson said. School district residents shouldn’t expect an increase in their taxes with the bond election, he said, because the district will wrap up payments on Fred Assam Elementary this year.  

If BVSD voters approve the bond issue, construction on the new elementary school is projected to start next spring, and the school would open in the fall of 2021.

The site for the new elementary school was selected in 2018 by the all-volunteer facilities review committee.

The school board also heard its monthly “good news” presentation at last week’s meeting. Brandon Valley Intermediate School principal Nick Skibsted introduced four students on the BVIS Vex robotics team, which was formed two years ago. The students described how they plan, design code and test bots for competition and gave a short demonstration for the school board. The team competed at the state robotics contest in March but didn’t qualify for worlds.

Skibsted, students and board members discussed the potential for expanding the after-school activity in the future. At least one team member said he felt there may be more BV students interested in the activity. Board president Renee Ullom said she felt the board was open to the idea and would wait to hear a proposal.

In his superintendent’s report, Larson said the school district was exploring the possibility of sharing child nutrition services, and he’d have more information at upcoming meetings. 

The board also held a first reading of the revised homework policy, which a committee has updated with new language and removed a phrase about a homework hotline, which isn’t used. Board member Dan Klumper, who was on the committee, said the language of the revised policy is more “progressive.” 

The board approved the following new hires for the upcoming school year:

• Adam Rothenberger, head high school boys tennis coach;

• Tony Thoreson, head high school cross country coach;

• Ben Schultz, assistant high school cross country coach; 

• Shelby Selland, freshman girls basketball coach;

• Maggie Youngberg, assistant high school girls basketball coach;

• Darcie Horstmeyer, seventh grade English;

• Kasey Waage, eighth grade science.

The school board will reconvene at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 13, at the Brandon Valley High School community room.