Brandon Valley School District: Feb. 3
_________ Minutes _________
The regular meeting of the Brandon Valley Board of Education, Brandon, SD was held at 6:30 p.m. on the 25th of January, 2021 at the Brandon Valley High School Community Room with the following members present: Renee Ullom, Gregg Ode, Ellie Saxer (via phone), Gregg Talcott, and Nick Scott. Absent: none. Also present were Superintendent Jarod Larson, Business Manager Paul J. Lundberg, Brandon Valley High School Principal Mark Schlekeway, Brandon Valley High School Assistant Principal Bill Freking, Brandon Valley Brandon Valley Middle School Principal Brad Thorson, Brandon Valley Intermediate School Principal Nick Skibsted, Brandon Valley Intermediate Assistant Principal Rick Pearson, Special Service Director Kyle Babb, and Director of Instruction Sherri Nelson.
Renee Ullom called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion by Talcott, seconded by Ode to approve the agenda as presented. On a roll call vote, the following voted aye: Talcott, Ode, Saxer, Scott, and Ullom; voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Administrative reports were presented. Superintendent Jarod Larson outlined the Inspiration Elementary School construction timeline:
Spring 2020:
° Construction in progress
° Collaborative BVSD/Sioux Falls Playground/Park Development/Expense Agreement ($336,823)
Fall 2020: Naming Facilities Committee: November 23, 2020 recommendation; Process completed
Fall 2020: Elementary boundary line committee: Process completed
2020-21 School year: Construction continues
Fall 2021: School opens
The new elementary school staffing timeline is as follows: October – Internal general posting (interview, selection, administrative review); January – Internal transfers (classroom instructors) processed; encore, special education and classified to be announced at a later date; February – approve new school district positions.
The 2021-22 Budget process has begun with budget forms/documents distributed early January, 2021. The Business Office will compile and review by March 2021. In February 2021, we will present the 5-year plan along with new staffing positions. In March 2021, the preliminary Capital Outlay budget will be presented for approval in order for major items to be bid in a timely manner. In May 2021, we will hold a preliminary budget presentation and in July 2021, we will hold the public budget hearing for potential action.
Dr. Jarod Larson reviewed the updated COVID-19 Pandemic Response Plan. The CDC/SD DOH Close Contact Quarantine Update protocols include two alternative timelines for 7-day and 10-day quarantine that both require specific criteria. Quarter 3 COVID-19 restrictions remain the same as Quarters 1 and 2 of this same school year; Quarter 4 COVID-19 restrictions will be announced late February.
Kindergarten screening registration is open. Contact your respective elementary school for more information on how to register your student.
A School Board Election for two (2), three-year (3-year) seats will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 (if necessary). The earliest date to circulate a petition is April 6, 2021; the deadline for return of petitions is May 7, 2021 (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.
Superintendent Evaluation process will take place in February with the following timeline: February 8, 2021 – Distribute evaluation tool; February 22, 2021 – Evaluation due to School Board President, Renee Ullom; March 8, 2021 – Discuss performance evaluation (executive session); and April 12, 2021 – Tentative contract negotiations (executive session).
Tentative 2021-22 negotiations timeline/wage recommendations will begin with a pre-negotiation meeting between the BVSD Admin and the Brandon Valley Education Association (BVEA) sometime in March. The Personnel Welfare and BVEA plan to meet on March 24, 2021. Tentatively, at the April 12, 2021 Board of Education regular meeting we will plan to ratify the 2021-22 Master Contract, approve Classified wage recommendation/approve Administration Salary recommendations, and enter Superintendent contract negotiations.
Legislative Session Update: School Administrators of South Dakota (SASD) Legislative event taking place Wednesday, February 3, 2021. Joint Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD)/School Administrators of South Dakota (SASD)/Large School Group Information Resources.
Current School Calendar items include the following: February 12, 2021-No school; Monday, February 15, 2021-No school (President’s Day); Monday, March 15, 2021-Elementary/BVHS Parent-Teacher Conferences; Tuesday, March 16, 2021-Intermediate/Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences; Thursday, March 18, 2021-No school (snow day); and Friday, March 19, 2021-No school (comp day).
The week of February 8-11, 2021 has been designated as One District.One Book with the emphasis on the importance of reading. The School District will also focus on social/emotional learning, coping for our students and staff/student mental health; cross curricular and interdisciplinary units; community connectedness by all participating in reading the book, “The Coffee Bean” written by Jon Gordon and Damon West. “The Lynx Way Coffee Bean Day” is scheduled for February 11, 2021 in the Brandon Valley High School Community Room.
Motion by Scott, seconded by Talcott to approve the following general business items:
1. Approve the Brandon Valley School District 2021-22 Academic Calendar as presented.
2. Approve Change Order #3 for Inspiration Elementary School for an additional amount of $6,791.00 as presented.
3. Approve recommendation to accept low bid from Innovative Office Solutions for Inspiration Elementary Classroom Furnishings in the amount of $441,658.86 as presented.
4. Approve recommendation to accept Crouch Recreation per Sourcewell Contract #030117-4 for Inspiration Elementary Playground Equipment in the amount of $324,465.00 as presented.
On a roll call vote, the following voted aye: Scott, Talcott, Ode, Saxer, and Ullom; voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Motion by Ode, seconded by Scott to approve the following personnel items:
1. Approve resignation of Jacob Shoup, Head Girls Soccer Coach, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year as presented.
2. Approve resignation from Rhonda Bachmeier, BVHS evening custodian, effective January 12, 2021.
3. Approve recommendation to hire Kelli Vellema, long-term substitute for Melissa Garrow, RBE nurse, effective January 25, 2021 through May 19, 2021.
4. Approve recommendation to hire Sherry Swift, long-term substitute for Kelli Vellema, RBE Educational Assistant, effective on January 25 through May 19, 2021, $12/hour first 15 days; $12.25/hour day 16 and beyond.
5. Approve resignation from Brent Becker, Assistant High School Softball Coach, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year as presented.
6. Approve resignation from Penny Bennett, Concessions Manager, effective at the end of the 220-21 schoolyear.
7. Approve lane change request for the following staff: Sara Stone, MA+15 to MA+30.
8. Approve recommendation to hire the following substitutes for the 2020-21 school year: Douglas Barnes, Payton Livingston, and Genice Rodne.
On a roll call vote, the following voted aye: Ode, Scott, Talcott, Saxer, and Ullom; voting nay: none. Motion carried.
The following personnel items were presented to the Board of Education as information only:
1. Transfer Katherine Lane from Distance Learning Fourth Grade Teacher to Brandon Elementary Fourth Grade Teacher, effective for the 2021-22 school year.
2. Transfer Alexis Lewis from Distance Learning Kindergarten Teacher to Brandon Elementary First Grade Teacher, effective for the 2021-22 school year.
3. Transfer Debra Jones from Fred Assam Third Grade Teacher to Valley Springs Elementary Third Grade Teacher, effective for the 2021-22 school year.
The following communication was presented from the Central Office and Board of Education:
1. Thank you from Larry and Ann Beesley for the holiday treat.
2. Thank you from Annette Peterson for the gift certificate for the BV Retiree’s Christmas Party.
3. Thank you from FAE Staff for the new laptops.
Board reports were heard. School Board President Renee Ullom reported on Alternative Education and a recent meeting she attended.
Motion by Talcott, seconded by Scott to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. On a roll call vote, the following voted aye: Talcott, Scott, Ode, Saxer, Ullom; voting nay: none. Motion carried.
Signed
Business Manager
Approved by the Board of Education this 8th day of February 2021
Signed
Chairperson
Published at the approximate cost of $85.96
Feb 3, 2021
