Brandon Valley School District
Brandon Valley School District
____ Notice of Meeting ____
The regular meeting of the Brandon Valley Board of Education, Brandon, SD was held at 6:30 p.m. on the 27th of April, 2020 at the Brandon Valley High School Community Room via teleconference attendance with the following members present: Renee Ullom (via phone), Gregg Ode (via phone), Dan Klumper (via phone), Ellie Saxer (via phone), and Gregg Talcott (via phone). Absent: none. Also present were Superintendent Jarod Larson and Business Manager Paul J. Lundberg (via phone), Brandon Valley Middle School Assistant Principal Amanda Nelson (via phone) and Brandon Valley Intermediate School Principal Nick Skibsted (via phone).
Renee Ullom called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Ode, seconded by Talcott to approve the agenda as presented. On a roll call vote, the following voted aye: Ode, Talcott, Saxer, Klumper, Ullom. Voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Tonight’s Good New Report was presented via video from all four elementary principals, Tanya Palmer-Valley Springs Elementary, Merle Horst-Brandon Elementary, Kristin Hofkamp-Robert Bennis Elementary, and Susan Foster-Fred Assam Elementary. All four Administrators emphasized ways in which they are keeping in touch with students and staff during this Distance Learning period and reminded all to stay safe and healthy. Please visit the following link to see their presentation at tonight’s meeting: HYPERLINK “https://www.wevideo.com/view/1667594370” https://www.wevideo.com/view/1667594370.
Administrative reports were presented. Superintendent Jarod Larson outlined the Sparta Elementary School construction timeline:
Spring 2020: Construction begins
Fall 2020: Elementary boundary line committee meets
2020-21 School year: Construction continues
Fall 2021: School opens
The 2020-21 Budget process is underway with budget forms/documents distributed on January 6, 2020. The Business Office has compiled and reviewed all budgets in March 2020 and these budgets have been returned to all schools for summer requisition preparation. The 5-year plan was presented at the February 24, 2020 Board of Education meeting. On March 9, 2020, the preliminary Capital Outlay budget was 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.
The Child Nutrition Services Department is planning a “Lynx Lunch Express”. This is a mobile feeding unit and a bus is currently being outfitted with a generator and air conditioner for this purpose. The plan is for the “Lynx Lunch Express” to visit portions of our School District which have been identified by census data for eligibility for summer lunch programs. Child Nutrition Director Gay Anderson is reviewing an Innovative Programmatic Grant Opportunity. It includes some shared services and would include additional staff at no additional cost to our district. More information and an approval request regarding this grant opportunity will be forthcoming in May.
The Professional Awards – Staff Recognition Banquet will be held virtually this year on Thursday, May 7, 2020. We will be celebrating retirements, years of service, and will announce the Brandon Valley School District Teacher of the Year at this banquet. Details of how to attend will be available in the near future.
COVID-19 CARES Act Funding has been in the news lately. This is a funding allocation provided to each school based on Title I funding. We have only received preliminary information and more information will be made available in the near future. We will make that information available when we have more to share.
COVID-19 Update. Superintendent Larson continues to send staff/parent/community emails with COVID-19 Information as well as maintaining the BVSD COVID-19 Website as the Central Community hub for the Distance Learning Plans and Grab & Go Lunch updates. A change to Grab & Go lunch has taken place, distributing a week’s full of meals on Tuesdays only to reduce exposure to staff and students while maintaining the service. All BVSD & SDHSAA events (spring & winter postponed) are now cancelled. Information on locker clean-out and equipment return is on-going. The Brandon Valley School District Pandemic Response Plan continues to prevent-prepare-mitigate-respond plan with two strategies: reduce the spread and sustain educational functions and operations. We will abide by recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Health.
In regard to the 2020 Graduation Ceremony, the Brandon Valley Administration utilized senior student and parent focus groups via a survey. The strategy going forward is as follows: Graduation postponed to Sunday, July 19, 2020 with a back-up date of Sunday, August 2, 2020 if needed. If the August 2, 2020 doesn’t allow for an in-person ceremony, a Virtual Graduation will be held on August 2, 2020. Thank you to the students, parents and BVHS Administration on working through this difficult decision.
The upcoming 2019-20 school year important dates to remember: Current closure dates March 16 – May 22, 2020 and all days included in the Academic Calendar remain unchanged.
Motion by Saxer, seconded by Klumper to approve the following General Business:
Approve low bid from Guarantee Roofing & Sheetmetal for the BVMS Re-roof project in the amount of $101,734.00, as presented.
Approve agreements by and between the Brandon Valley School District #49-2 and the City of Sioux Falls for the 41st Street widening project in the 41st Street public right-of-way located adjacent to Sparta Elementary (Temporary Construction Easement, Permanent Public and/or Private Utility Easement, and Offer to Purchase Real Estate), as presented.
Approve application submission by the BVSD Child Nutrition Services for Fuel up to Play 6 Grant (up to $4,000/school), as presented.
Approve low bid from Innovative Office Solutions for RBE Floor Covering (base bid and both alternates) in the amount of $163,052.00, as presented.
On a roll call vote, the following voted aye: Saxer, Klumper, Ode, Talcott, Ullom. Voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Motion by Talcott, seconded by Klumper to approve the following personnel items:
Approve resignation for Jeanna Seubert, FAE part-time Child Nutrition Worker, effective April 13, 2020.
Approve recommendation to hire Ashley Hoffman, BVHS Head Dance Team Coach, 12.5% of Extra-curricular Step Base ~ $5,086.00, effective for the 2020-21 school year.
Approve recommendation to hire Shalena Zeller, BVIS 5th Grade English/Language Arts Teacher, BA+15 Step 8 ~ $49,752.00, effective for the 2020-21 school year.
Approve recommendation to hire Taylor Blosmo, BVHS Special Education Teacher, BA Step 1 ~ $47,054.00, effective for the 2020-21 school year.
Approve recommendation to hire Keegan Hecht, BVHS Social Studies Teacher, BA+15 Step 4 ~ $48,349.00, effective for the 2020-21 school year.
Approve recommendation to hire Lorinda VanMaanen, BVMS 8th Grade English/Language Arts Teacher, MA+15 Step 10 ~ $51,322.00, effective for the 2020-21 school year.
Approve recommendation to hire Andrea Lahrs, BVMS 7th/8th Grade English/Language Arts Teacher, BA Step 6 ~ $48,685.00, effective for the 2020-21 school year.
Approve resignation from Josie Reekers, BVMS Smart Lab Teacher, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year.
On a roll call vote, the following voted aye: Talcott, Klumper, Ode, Saxer, Ullom. Voting nay: none. Motion carried.
The following information was presented to the Board of Education for information only:
Transfer Jessica Hunsaid from FAE 3rd Grade Teacher to BVIS 6th Grade English/Language Arts Teacher, effective for the 2020-21 school year.
Transfer Sonja Braucht from District Gifted Education Teacher to BVMS 8th Grade Science Teacher, effective for the 2020-21 school year.
The following communications were presented from the Central Office and Board of Education:
Thank you from Melissa Garrow and family for the plant sent in memory of her mother, Diane Young.
Thank you from Andrea Gerritsen for continued payment for herself and fellow staff during the COVID-19 disruption.
Board President Renee Ullom reported on Alternative Education committee and a recent meeting held on 4/15/2020. Teachwell has signed papers to purchase an additional building to expand future services. Ullom expressed her excitement on this good news for Alternative Education opportunities going forward.
Motion by Saxer, seconded by Ode to adjourn the meeting at 6:51 p.m. On a roll call vote, the following voted aye: Saxer, Ode, Talcott, Klumper, Ullom. Voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Published May 6, 2020 at the approximate price of $83.50.
