City of Brandon
_________ Notice __________
NOTICE OF AUDIT OF THE FISCAL AFFAIRS OF THE CITY OF BRANDON
Notice is hereby given that the records and books of account of the City of Brandon, South Dakota, have been audited by Quam, Berglin & Post, P.C., Certified Public Accountants of Elk Point, South Dakota for the year ended December 31, 2019. A detailed report thereon, containing additional information, is filed with the City of Brandon and the Department of Legislative Audit in Pierre, South Dakota for public inspection.
This notice is published in compliance with the provisions of SDCL 4-11-12.
RUSSELL A. OLSON, AUDITOR GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
Published twice at the approximate cost of $15.36
September 30 & October 7, 2020
_________ Minutes _________
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
The Brandon Planning & Zoning Commission met in regular session at 6:30 p.m. on September 17, 2020 at the Brandon City Council Chambers.
Roll call was taken. Members present were Commissioners Brian Heidbrink, Brookes Noem, Chuck Parsons, Rob Schoeneman and Alica Thiele. Also present were Alderman Tim Jorgenson, Building Official Paul Clarke and City Engineer Tami Jansma. Absent were Commissioner Jim Starzl, City Administrator Bryan Read and Mayor Paul Lundberg.
Commissioner Parsons moved Commissioner Heidbrink seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Commissioner Thiele moved Commissioner Noem seconded to approve the minutes of the September 3, 2020 regular meeting. Motion carried.
A Home Occupation Permit Application was presented for 517 S. Palmer Drive. Applicant Amy Lines-Wickman, 517 S. Palmer Drive, was present for discussion. Amy wants to open a dog grooming business out of her home. Commissioner Parsons moved Commissioner Heidbrink seconded to approve the Home Occupation Permit Application as presented. Motion carried.
Discussion held on front yard setbacks where the property line falls in the middle of a mutual access easement. This pertains to private streets, where the property line is platted to the middle of that street. Patrick Andrews, SECOG, was present for discussion and had prepared a draft of this proposed ordinance change. More information will be presented at the next Planning & Zoning Commission meeting.
At 6:45 p.m., having no further business, Commissioner Noem moved Commissioner Parsons seconded to adjourn the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa Labahn
Recording Clerk
Tami Jansma
City Engineer
Published at the approximate cost of $18.73
October 7, 2020
Brandon Valley School District
_________ Minutes _________
The regular meeting of the Brandon Valley Board of Education, Brandon, SD was held at 6:30 p.m. on the 28th of September, 2020 at the Brandon Valley High School Performing Arts Center with the following members present: Renee Ullom, Gregg Ode, Ellie Saxer, 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, Assistant High School Principal Bill Freking, Activities Director Randy Marso, Brandon Valley Middle School Principal Brad Thorson, Brandon Valley Intermediate School Principal Nick Skibsted, 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 Saxer, seconded by Talcott to approve the agenda as amended. Add General item #6, Approve school lunch adult meal price at $4.20/meal and school breakfast adult meal price at $2.40/meal, as required within our participation of the SFSP, effective October 1 – December 23, 2020. Motion carried.
Community Input this evening included presentations from two individuals that requested to speak at this evening’s Board of Education meeting. First to speak was Justin Lovrien, Brandon Valley High School Science teacher. Mr. Lovrien presented information regarding the consideration of pivoting into an A/B Hybrid Model for the Brandon Valley High School and the Brandon Valley Middle School. He spoke as an instructor that not only has an underlying condition (Type 1 diabetes), but also spoke to the strain on teachers in the HS and MS setting where close contact guidelines are hard to maintain. Lovrien explained that it is near impossible to stay 6 feet away for 15 minute increments while teaching in this setting. He urged the board to pivot to the A/B Hybrid schedule while we navigate the continued efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Second to speak to the board at tonight’s meeting was Molly Joseph, Brandon Valley mom of three students; a Junior, a Freshman, and a 7th grader. Joseph spoke to the board as one who opposes the school district’s A/B Hybrid Model for the Brandon Valley High School and Brandon Valley Middle School. Joseph began her discussion with asking if the School Administration and Board of Education had already made the decision on which direction to go on this evaluation of A/B Hybrid Model versus Traditional school days? School Board members were in agreement and explained to Mrs. Joseph that no decision had been made prior to this evening’s meeting. Joseph went on to explain her support of remaining in the Traditional School day schedule because it is still in the best interest of our students. She reiterated that Dr. Larson had explained to parents that the school district has a quarantine problem, but NOT a COVID problem. That being said, Joseph thanked the teachers and administrators for their continued flexibility, care, and concern for what is best for everyone and requested that the Brandon Valley Board of Education maintain their stance and uphold the original decision to continue with the Traditional school day schedule, including the new survey results presented at this evening’s meeting.
Administrative reports were presented. Superintendent Jarod Larson outlined the Sparta Elementary School construction timeline:
Spring 2020: Construction has begun with exterior/interior walls, masonry and precast is in progress
° Exterior/interior walls, masonry and precast in progress
° Collaborative BVSD/Sioux Falls Playground/Park Development/Expense Agreement ($336,823)
Summer 2020: Naming Facilities Committee
Fall 2020: Elementary boundary line committee meets
2020-21 School year: Construction continues
Fall 2021: School opens
Sparta Elementary School Staffing Timeline is as follows: October – Internal General Posting; January – Internal Transfers; February – Approve New Positions.
Brandon Valley Elementary School Boundary Committee Process: Objectives: Minimize student impact, proactively manage student growth, and establish boundaries aligned for future growth. Committee Result: Develop elementary boundaries for the 2020-21 school year and develop a preliminary boundary concept for BV VISION 2040. This committee will consist of Superintendent Larson, any Administration that would like to attend, and two parent representatives from each current elementary school (as recommended by elementary building principals).
Elementary School Committee meeting schedule as follows:
- 09/21/2020 Committee Meeting
- 10/05/2020 Committee Meeting
- 10/06/2020 FAE PTA Meeting
- 10/08/2020
Board Transportation Committee
- 10/12/2020
Board of Education Report/Update
- 10/15/2020
Informational Meeting for families
- 10/26/2020
Board of Education Report/Update
- 11/09/2020
(Potential) Board of Education Approval
Current School Calendar items include: Monday, September 28th-BVIS/BVMS Parent Teacher Conferences (virtual); September 29th-Elementary/HS Parent Teacher Conferences (virtual); Friday, October 2nd-No School, Comp Day; Monday, October 12th-No School, In-Service Day; Wednesday, October 21st-End of 1st quarter.
The A/B Hybrid Evaluation Report was presented by Superintendent Larson. The A/B Hybrid Model Evaluation report does not involve the Elementary or Intermediate School Buildings as our Cohort Isolation Strategy is effective and working well in those school buildings. The A/B Hybrid Model evaluation is to allow our school district to be proactive in our approach to evaluate a solution to close contact challenges, while continuing to adhere to close contact guidelines and recommendations. We have allowed the opportunity to engage our stakeholders, BVEA Leadership, MS/HS Staff, Administrative Council, BVHS Student Council, MS Parents, and HS parents to gather feedback on this potential decision. Survey results as follows: BVHS Parent/Guardians (905 responses) ~ 56.42% Traditional and 43.58% A/B Hybrid; BVHS Staff (68 responses) ~ 31.34% Traditional and 68.66% A/B Hybrid; BVMS Parent Guardians (610 responses) ~ 53.86% Traditional and 46.14% A/B Hybrid; BVMS Staff (45 responses_ ~ 37.78% Traditional and 62.22 A/B Hybrid; BVHS Student Council voted 24-1 in favor of an A/B Schedule. With new information received late in the day on Friday, September 25, 2020, Dr. Larson is recommending to pause for now and continue with the current plan and hold a special meeting, if necessary. Larson thanked the parents and guardians of our District for the phenomenal response and active participation to the survey
Board member Ellie Saxer stated that she feels that the plan that has been adopted by our school district has been working and is very proud of BV School District as being number one because we set the pace and do not follow. Saxer stated that she is in support of pausing at this point and continuing with our current plan.
Board member Gregg Talcott spoke to the issue of inequity for the students that are out of school due to the close contact rules. With the various health authorities recommending masking, our responsibility still rests on us protecting our students and staff. Talcott believes that if the time comes when the state shifts to changing the close contact quarantine guidelines, his recommendation would be to include plastic barriers and mandated masking. With different guidance, Talcott feels mandatory masks will make a difference. In addition, Talcott is very uncomfortable with BV Activity attendance due to the close contact of students and no mask mandate. Talcott does agree that at this time, we place this decision on pause and continue with the current plan.
Board member Nick Scott stated that he would like to “mandate” that everybody votes on this issue to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard.
President Renee Ullom also thanked the two community input participants this evening and also agreed that with the information that Dr. Larson received late in the day on Friday, September 25, 2020, it is in the District’s best interest to pause for now and continue with the current plan.
Superintendent Jarod Larson presented the Proposed Coronavirus Relief Funds budget as follows:
EC-6 Staff Laptops (Distance Learning Support)
$194,000
Bandwidth/Connectivity Needs
$350,000
HVAC/Air Exchange Improvements
$630,000
Summer Planning (Admin 5 Days pay)
$25,000
Pre-School Year COVID Training/OT
$7,000
Healthcare/Law Enforcement Staff (Sept-Dec 2020)
$125,000
All-Staff COVID Stipend
$475,000
Certified Staff Flexible Curriculum Development (2 Day) $200,000
Edginuity
$27,000
Distance Learning Teacher (.25) (Sept-Dec 2020)
$22,000
COVID EA (Sept-Dec 2020)
$70,000
Safety Supplies (March 14-December 2020)
$175,000
TOTAL $2,300,000
Motion by Saxer, seconded by Talcott to approve the Proposed Coronavirus Relief Funds budget as presented. Motion carried.
Motion by Ode, seconded by Talcott to approve the following General Business items:
1. Approve change order #2 for BV Sparta Elementary School for the additional amount of $36,039.00 to include cement stabilization at the east half of the main parking lot, as presented.
2. Approve acknowledgement by and between the Brandon Valley School District and Junior Achievement of South Dakota for Parental Notification and Consent under the Children’s on-line Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) on behalf of Junior Achievement.
3. Approve service agreement by and between Universal Pediatrics and the Brandon Valley School District for nursing services for one student, at a rate of $50/hour, effective for the 2020-21 school year as presented.
4. Approve school lunch adult meal price at $4.20/meal and school breakfast adult meal price at $2.40/meal, as required within our participation of the SFSP, effective October 1 – December 23, 2020.
Motion carried.
Motion by Saxer, seconded by Talcott to approve the following personnel items:
1. Approve retirement notification from Todd Geerdes, MS Computer Teacher and Head Boys and Girls Golf Coach, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
2. Approve recommendation to hire Amanda Crawford, BE Special Education Educational Assistant, full-time, $15.00/hour, effective September 24, 2020.
3. Approve resignation from Sara Tiffany, BVHS Special Education Educational Assistant, effective October 30, 2020.
4. Approve lane change for the following staff: Kim Skibsted, MA to MA+15.
5. Request approval for temporary (1 year) long-term substitute school nurse at FAE for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year to begin October 13, 2020.
6. Approve recommendation to hire Danielle Rick, BVIS part-time Child Nutrition worker, $13.95/hour, 18.75 hours/week, effective September 29, 2020.
7. Approve the following substitutes for the 2020-21 school year: Edann Cloos, Susan Dykes, Katherine Klingensmith, and Kasara Pollema.
Motion carried.
The following personnel items were presented to the Board of Education as information only:
1. BVSD substitute Andia Blake as a long-term substitute for Deb Jones, FAE 3rd Grade Teacher to start approximately September 18, 2020 with an undetermined end date at this time.
The following communications was presented from the Central Office and Board of Education:
1. Thank you from Bernie Citta for the plant sent in memory of his wife, Judy.
Motion by Talcott, seconded by Saxer to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m. Motion carried.
Signed
Business Manager
Approved by the Board of Education this 12th day of October, 2020.
Signed
Chairperson
Published at the approximate cost of $116.35
October 7, 2020
