Rules tweaked for home-schoolers who participate in Brandon Valley activities
Home-schooled students who live within the boundaries of the Brandon Valley School District may continue to suit up for Lynx sports and fine arts programs as they have in the past. But home-schooled students who live outside the boundaries must now apply for “open enrollment”, which could be approved or denied, depending on program capacity.
The policy change, as explained by Supt. Dr. Jarod Larson during the school board’s July 12 organizational meeting, changes the application process, which is now done online through the South Dakota Department of Education. Larson noted families choosing to home school their children are no longer to apply annually. Instead, the process has switched to a one-time application process.
As of last week, Larson confirmed the district had yet to receive a formal request from either a resident or non-resident public school exemption student to participate in a BVSD activity or South Dakota High School Association sanctioned activity.
A frequently asked questions document to help guide school districts through the policy change is being assembly jointly by the Associated School Boards of South Dakota, School Administrators of South Dakota and the South Dakota Department of Education.
Supt. Larson updated the board on a variety of pre-school year items:
• The district’s newest school, Inspiration Elementary, will be showed off to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 17. A 5 p.m. ribbon cutting celebration is planned, followed by tours.
• BVSD’s summer lunch program continues to thrive. Since the program’s start on June 1 through June 27, 93,658 meals have been distributed. Week three had the highest number at 18,260 meals, and the first week was the lowest at 13,600.
The program continues through July 27.
• The district’s Pandemic Response Planning Committee reconvened last week and are scheduled to meet again at 1 p.m. July 21 and 28 in the BVHS Community Room. The committee process includes consultation with BVSD families to determine recommended mitigation strategies with the goal of finalizing the plan the week of Aug. 2. Larson said the plan will be reviewed/revised as necessary, but at a minimum of every six months through September 2023, which is a requirement of the American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER).
• Were enlightened on the district’s tentative policy for medical cannabis. The yet-to-be-approved policy requires the student to be a medical cannabis cardholder, who has a copy of the valid card on file with the school. Only the registered designated caregiver(s) will be allowed to administer medical cannabis to the student and non-smokable product will only be allowed to be administered on school property.
Medicinal cannabis may not be stored on school property and all documentation required in administrative rule must be on file with the school prior to the administration of medical cannabis on school property along with any change to the student’s medical cannabis cardholder status must be reported to the school.
The board also:
• Kept the transportation fees for the 2021-22 school year the same.
Kindergarten through fourth-grade students open enrolled within the district are not eligible for transportation. Transportation for out-of-district open enrolled students is available at a cost of $150 per student, per semester. The bus pass fee for kindergarten through fourth-grade students who live less than five miles from their school of attendance is $75 per student, per semester, with a family maximum of $175 per semester. As dictated by state law, there is no fee for students who live five or more miles from their school of attendance.
• Recognized that free breakfast, second-chance breakfast and lunch will continue to be offered at no cost to all students for the 2021-22 school year. Adults, however, who eat breakfast or second-chance breakfast will be charged $2.50; lunch is $4.35 per adult.
Morning milk for K-4 students is 40 cents per carton, and morning snack for K-4 is 50 cents per snack.
The board approved a variety of new hires, including Tucker Loosbrock, as assistant high school boys’ soccer coach; Madeline Brake, .6 FTE at Fred Assam Elementary and .4 FTE at Inspiration Elementary computer teacher; Bailey Durfee, a fifth-grade English Language Arts teacher; and Ben Schultz, freshman girls’ basketball coach.
The board also approved resignations from Cassie Uithoven, Robert Bennis Elementary kindergarten teacher; and Tara James, administrative assistant at both BV Intermediate and Middle schools.
The board meets next at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9 in the BVHS Community Room.
