Brandon Valley Board of Education minutes
Brandon Valley Board of Education minutes
The regular meeting of the Brandon Valley Board of Education, Brandon, SD was held at 6:30 p.m. on the 28th of January, 2019 at the Brandon Valley High School Community Room with the following members present: Renee Ullom, Gregg Ode, Cary Schroeder, Ellie Saxer (via phone), and Dan Klumper. Absent: None. Also present were Superintendent Jarod Larson, Business Manager Paul J. Lundberg, High School Assistant Principal Mark Schlekeway, Middle School Principal Brad Thorson, Middle School Assistant Principal Bill Freking, Intermediate School Principal Nick Skibsted, Brandon Elementary Principal Merle Horst, 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 Ode, seconded by Schroeder to approve the agenda as presented. On a roll call vote, the following voting aye: Ode, Schroeder, Klumper, Saxer, Ullom; voting nay: none. Motion carried.
For the “Good News” report at tonight’s meeting, Middle School Principal Brad Thorson and 8th Grade Math instructor, Kelsey Hoff, updated the Board of Education on the BVMS 1:1 initiative. Ms. Hoff is the go-to person at the MS on this initiative. Hoff demonstrated some of the many classroom examples used with the computers and also explained that these devices help the students to be more thorough and creative with their work. With one semester completed, Thorson and Hoff are pleased with the results of the initiative thus far. The students have taken great responsibility with the devices and Thorson stated that this program has been a tremendous asset to the Middle School! Both Ms. Hoff and Mr. Thorson invited Board Members to visit the Middle School and any classrooms to see these devices at work first hand. Thank you to the Board of Education for the support of this initiative!
Administrative reports were presented. Congratulations to our technology department on the roll-out of the BVMS 1:1 Initiative along with thanks to staff and students for making this a very positive program!
BVSD is currently engaged in the development of our staff work environment, tagged as “BV Listens”. Within our strategic plan we talk about staff development and evaluating our work environment; therefore “BV Listens” is a work environment survey. Both Certified and Classified staff are participating in this survey. The “BV Listens!” survey was conducted starting on January 21, 2019. To date there have been 246 Certified surveys completed and 126 Classified surveys completed.
The Student Activities, Curriculum & Technology Committee in addition to BVHS Administration and Director of Instruction, Sherri Nelson, are working through a variety of items in regard to the newest South Dakota Graduation Requirements. This committee will have a presentation/action in February.
Kindergarten Screening registration is open – contact your respective elementary school for information.
We will have two (2) three-year seats open on the school board this upcoming year. Important election dates to remember are as follows: April 9, 2019 ~ Earliest date to circulate a petition; May 10, 2019 ~ Deadline for petitions to be returned. Candidates must also file a Financial Interest Statement within 15 days of filing a nominating petition; June 18, 2019 ~ School Board Election. Please contact the Brandon Valley Business Office if interested or need more information.
The 2019-20 staffing request timeline is as follows: late February, additional 2019-20 staffing recommendations will be presented. Late February to early March, those positions will be posted for applications; recommendations to hire for those positions will be determined as applications/interviews are reviewed and finalized.
Tentative 2019-20 Teacher Negotiations time-line/wage recommendations will begin in January with contract language meeting(s) between BVSD Administration and BVEA. A pre-negotiation meeting will be held in March with a Negotiations meeting between the Personnel Welfare Committee and BVEA will be held in mid-March to early April. We plan to ratify the 2019-20 Master Contract, approve Classified wage recommendations, approve Administration salary recommendations, and hold Superintendent contract negotiations at the April 8, 2019 regular Board of Education meeting.
The 2019-20 budget process is underway. Following is the timeline for the budget process: January-March: Budget forms/documents distributed, completed, compiled and reviewed by the Central Office. March: Preliminary Capital Outlay Budget Presented/Approved (this is necessary for major items to be bid in a timely manner). May 27. 2019: Preliminary Budget Presentation to the Board of Education. July 15, 2019: Public Budget Hearing with potential action at this Annual Board of Education meeting.
Legislative Update: Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) and School Administrators of South Dakota (SASD) both have Bill Tracker information you can follow on their web-sites. The Brandon Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Legislative Coffee on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 9 a.m. at Bethany Meadows. Other important dates to note: Brandon Day at the Legislature has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 27, 2019; SDSSA Legislative Reception is scheduled for Wednesday, January 30, 2019; and ASBSD Legislative Day is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19, 2019.
The Superintendent Evaluation/Contract timeline is as follows: February 11, 2019 ~ Distribute Evaluation Tool; February 25, 2019 ~ Evaluations are due to Board President Renee Ullom; March 11, 2019 ~ Discuss performance evaluation; April 8, 2019 ~ Contract negotiations.
Good new presentations are scheduled with a post-secondary night and career night update from the Brandon Valley High School on February 25, 2019, and the elementary buildings on March 25, 2019.
Looking ahead at the academic calendar, 2018-19 school year important dates to remember: no school for President’s Day holiday ~ February 15 and February 18; snow day school in session ~ March 14, 2019; No school, comp day, March 15, 2019.
Motion by Klumper, seconded by Schroeder to approve the following general business items:
1. Approve authorization to apply for and make use of the South Dakota Diesel Emission Reduction Act Rebate Program – Round Eleven, to use funds towards purchasing two school buses, approximately 25% of the purchase price as presented.
2. Adopt the Brandon Valley School District #49-2 2019-20 Academic Calendar as presented.
On a roll call vote, the following voting aye: Klumper, Schroeder, Ode, Saxer, Ullom; voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Motion by Schroeder, seconded by Klumper to approve the following personnel items:
1. Approve recommendation to hire Kim Kelly, long-term substitute for Erica Karl, BE Kindergarten Teacher, effective on or around March 1, 2019 for approximately eight weeks.
2. Approve resignation/retirement notification from Cheryl Roos, BE Second Grade Teacher, effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year.
3. Approve resignation/retirement notification from Gregg Talcott, BVHS Principal, effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year.
4. Approve recommendation to hire the following substitutes for the 2018-19 school year: David Anderson, Amanda Barton, and McKayla Warmka.
On a roll call vote, the following voting aye: Schroeder, Klumper, Ode Saxer, Ullom; voting nay: none. Motion carried.
The following personnel items were reviewed by the Board of Education for information only:
1. Request for maternity leave by Shannon Heupel, HS Spanish Teacher, on or around April 23, 2019 until May 24, 2019.
2. Request for maternity leave by Macy Archer, RBE Speech-Language Pathologist, effective on or around May 24, 2019.
3. Request for transfer of Michael Zerr from BVIS Science Teacher to BVHS Science Teacher, effective starting the 2019-20 school year.
Communications received by the Central Office and Board of Education were reviewed. They included the following items:
1. Thank you from Merry Miller and family for the plant sent in memory of her mother, Marney King.
2. Thank you from Greg Clemetson and family for the plant sent in memory of his father, Don Clemetson.
Motion by Schroeder, seconded by Ode to adjourn the meeting at 6:55 p.m. On a roll call vote, the following voting aye: Schroeder, Ode, Klumper, Saxer, Ullom; voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Signed
Business Manager
Approved by the Board of Education this 11th day of February, 2019.
Signed
Chairperson
Published at the approximate cost of $80.43.
(Feb. 6, 2019)
