Brandon Valley School District: Nov. 4
_________ Minutes _________
The regular meeting of the Brandon Valley Board of Education, Brandon, SD was held at 6:30 p.m. on the 26th of October, 2020 at the Brandon Valley High School Community Room 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 Lundberg, Brandon Valley High School Principal Mark Schlekeway, Brandon Valley Assistant Principal Bill Freking, Brandon Valley Middle School Principal Brad Thorson, Brandon Valley Intermediate School Principal Nick Skibsted, Brandon Valley Intermediate Assistant Principal Rick Pearson, Special Services 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 Saxer to approve the agenda as amended with Personnel Item #6 listed at an hourly rate of $14.00. Motion carried.
Administrative reports were presented. Superintendent Jarod Larson outlined the Sparta Elementary School construction timeline:
Spring 2020:
° Construction continues with exterior/interior walls, masonry and precast in progress
° Collaborative BVSD/Sioux Falls Playground/Park Development/Expense Agreement ($336,823)
Summer 2020: Naming Facilities Committee: Scheduling with a tentative recommendation in November
Fall 2020: Elementary boundary line committee: Process completed
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 processed; February – Approve new positions.
District 10 & 25 Legislative Breakfast: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 @ 7:30 a.m. (tentative).
Fall state aid enrollment for the 2020-21 school year was reported as 4,681.8 students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade, which is an increase of 254 students from last year. For your information, the three-year (2018-2020) Fall enrollment review is as follows: 2018 ~ 4,249.75; 2019 ~ 4,427.13; and 2020 ~ 4,681.80.
The State of the Schools Address for 2020 will be delivered in November with available data and information at that time. There will be limited 2020 report card review due to the COVID-19 Pandemic with no state assessment administered in the Spring. Brandon Valley was ranked the #1 SD School by Niche.
2021-22 Academic School Year Calendar Development: Initial draft(s); Administrative Council, Teacher Liaison Council, and Classified Council review; Tentative Adoption timeline: Monday, January 11, 2021 (Initial Presentation) and Monday, January 25, 2021 (Potential Approval Action).
Current School Calendar items include: Wednesday, November 11, 2020-No School (Veteran’s Day); Wednesday – Friday, November 25-27, 2020-No School (Thanksgiving break); Wednesday, December 23, 2020-two-hour early Dismissal and December 24, 2020 – January 3, 2021-No School (Winter Break); Monday, January 4, 2021-school resumes.
Lastly, the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) return to play task force is currently working through the winter guidance for schools with a return to winter activities schedule. We had relatively good success through the fall season and look forward to heading into the winter season with the same success.
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 (completed)
- 10/05/2020 Committee Meeting (completed)
- 10/06/2020 FAE PTA Meeting (completed)
- 10/08/2020 Board Transportation Committee (completed)
- 10/08/2020 BVSD Family Update/Informational Video (completed)
- 10/12/2020 Board of Education Report/Update (completed)
- 10/15/2020 Informational Meeting for families @BVHS PAC @ 6 p.m. (completed)
- 10/26/2020 Board of Education Report/Update (tonight’s meeting information)
- 11/09/2020 (Potential) Board of Education Approval
As the committee navigates the elementary student enrollment impacted by boundary changes, they determined that all current 3rd grade students will be eligible to remain at their current attendance center. Those students would be subject to the in-district open enrollment transportation policy and no transportation services will be provided. Families will be required to submit a request to remain at their current attendance center.
Also, all other current elementary students may submit an in-district open enrollment application and those students would be subject to in-district open enrollment transportation policy and no transportation services will be provided. They would also be subject to in-district open enrollment policies regarding classroom capacity.
BVSD will strive to accommodate requests for any current 3rd grade students and their siblings that wish to remain at their current attendance center. We will do our best to accommodate but cannot guarantee all requests.
The committee consensus questions (as listed below) were all asked and supported 11-0:
- Can we agree that the 2021-22 Proposed Elementary Boundary Lines proactively manage student growth?
- Can we agree that the 2021-22 Proposed Elementary Boundary Lines align to future growth of the District?
- Can we agree that the strategies established to navigate enrollments impacted by the boundary change work to minimize student impact?
- Can we agree the BV VISION 2040 Boundary Lines align to the future growth of the District?
Other items to note regarding the new elementary school is that the staffing process is currently in-progress with Tanya Palmer assigned as the new building principal and other positions have been posted internally. We will offer a strong viable curriculum as an educational offering following our District reading protocol consistent at all elementary buildings within the Brandon Valley School District. We also have confirmed intent to operate the Ignite Program (Boys & Girls Club) before/after school childcare program at the new elementary school.
To view the October 26, 2020 Brandon Valley Elementary School Boundary Line Report, including proposed District Elementary Boundaries and BV Vision 2040 District Elementary Boundaries, click on the following link: https://jl163.k12.sd.us/BVSD.Board.Boundary.Update.10.26.20.pdf
To view a BVSD family informational video update: https://www.wevideo.com/view/1867920912
Motion by Talcott, seconded by Ode to approve the following General Business items:
1. Approve authorization to utilize Coronavirus Relief Funds for HVAC/Air Exchange Improvements at the Brandon Valley Middle School by G&R Controls through Omnia Partners Cooperative Pricing Program (Contract #R150505), in the amount of $501,816.00 as presented.
2. Approve the Brandon Valley School District Petition for a Residency Exception effective with the 2020-21 school year (#21-002) as presented.
Motion carried.
Motion by Saxer, seconded by Talcott to approve the following personnel items:
1. Approve resignation/retirement notification from Elaine A. Zell, BVMS Science teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year as presented.
2. Approve recommendation to hire Larenzo Williams, BVHS Special Education Educational Assistant, full-time, $15.00/hour, effective November 2, 2020 as presented.
3. Approve recommendation to hire Taylor Becker, Assistant 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, 6% Step Base of the extra-curricular step hiring schedule ~ $2,441.00, effective December 16, 2020 as presented.
4. Approve resignation of Susan Cavanaugh, BE part-time Child Nutrition Worker, effective October 20, 2020.
5. Approve request to increase two current part-time Child Nutrition positions from .5 FTE to 1.0 FTE, effective November 2, 2020 as presented.
6. Approve recommendation to transfer Kimberly Ludens, FAE part-time Child Nutrition Worker to FAE full-time Child Nutrition Worker, effective November 2, 2020.
7. Approve recommendation to transfer Kristi Harkin, BVHS part-time Child Nutrition Worker to BVHS full-time Child Nutrition Worker, effective November 2, 2020.
8. Approve recommendation to hire Joel Erickson, Bus/Van Substitute Driver, paid according to the Transportation Schedule, effective October 27, 2020.
9. Approve the following substitute for the 2020-21 school year as presented: Erin Johnson.
Motion carried.
The following communications were presented from the Central Office and Board of Education
1. Thank you from Cathie Herbers for the plant sent in memory of her father, Ron Roddel.
Board reports were heard. Board member Gregg Talcott spoke on behalf of the Student Activities, Curriculum & Technology committee, congratulating the Girls’ Soccer Team on becoming state champions last weekend along with third place finishes to both Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country teams, a fourth place finish for the Cheer Team and a second place finish for the Dance Team. Congratulations to all coaches, athletes, parents, and BV supporters!
Talcott also reported on a recent Curriculum meeting including a review of the Special Education services being provided during the COVID-19 Pandemic. They continue to do a phenomenal job for our students. They also discussed the cycle of curriculum upgrades moving forward. Lastly, the on-line instruction team is doing amazing work in providing instruction for all that have chosen that avenue of instruction this semester.
Board member Ellie Saxer reported on the City Affairs & Legislation committee. She reported that November 9th will be SD Legislative Day. It will be held virtually this year with discussion focusing on COVID-19. Saxer will email board members for any input they would like to make, as she plans to attend the virtual session. Saxer also congratulated our sports teams on their successes this fall as well as Oral Interpretation and the Brandon Valley Marching Lynx! All their efforts have not gone unnoticed for all activities and she continues to be so proud of BV’s efforts in the classroom and for all activities.
Motion by Ode, seconded by Scott to adjourn the meeting at 6:55 p.m. Motion carried.
Signed
Business Manager
Approved by the Board of Education this 9th day of November, 2020.
Signed
Chairperson
Published at the approximate cost of $107.14.
Nov. 4, 2020
