February 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting

Background:  The following personnel are presented for the board’s consideration:
New Hire (Support Staff): Paige Gorczewski, special services paraprofessional, Sturgis Elementary, $17.65/hr, eff. 1/26/2026; Ryan Smeenk, maintenance worker, Buildings & Grounds, district-wide, $23.50/hr, eff. 2/2/2026.

Change in Hourly Rate (Support Staff): Dena Strand, food service, Whitewood Elementary, $18.06/hr to $20.06/hr (Tier 2), eff. 12/10/2025; Reba Freeman, food service, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $17.20/hr to $19.20/hr (Tier 2), eff. 2/9/2026; Dawn Johnson, food service, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $18.06/hr to $20.06/hr (Tier 2), eff. 2/9/2026.

Resignation (Certificated): Nic Hansen, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Kate Bash, special services teacher, Sturgis Elementary, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Brittan Porterfield, administrator (.6 FTE), teacher (.4 FTE), Whitewood Elementary, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; David Olson, administrator, Stagebarn Middle School, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Grace Steinley, teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year.

Resignation (Support Staff): August Bowman, computer technician, district-wide, eff. 1/30/2026; Carolyn Waliser, lunchroom supervisor, Piedmont Valley Elementary, eff. 1/23/2026.

Background:  The monthly financial reports for the board’s review.  Brett Burditt will answer any questions you might have regarding financials. 

Background:  Community members who have volunteered to work in schools throughout the district: Nancy Kempf, Piedmont Valley Elementary; Sally Wilen, Whitewood Elementary School.

Background:  Extracurricular coaches and volunteer coaches will be updated monthly. Any changes will be highlighted in yellow.

Background:  Curriculum Director Beth Johnson and the district science review committee recommend the Board approve the six-year adoption of Amplify Science for grades 5-8 at a total cost of $183,523.03 to support standards-aligned, phenomena-based instruction. The adoption includes digital teacher and student licenses, consumable materials, lab kits for hands-on investigations, and twelve hours of professional learning.

Background:  Curriculum Director Beth Johnson and the district science review committee recommend the Board approve the adoption of the McGraw Hill Inspire Science platform for the high school in the amount of $40,441.45. The proposed adoption includes digital instructional resources for teachers and students and classroom sets of physical textbooks, designed to support rigorous content, inquiry-based learning, and alignment with state standards.

Background:  Curriculum Director Beth Johnson and the district science review committee recommend the Board approve the purchase of PIVOT Interactives in the total amount of $15,300.00 as an instructional program similar to those commonly used at the college level, allowing students to analyze real experimental data, manipulate variables, and engage in scientific practices. The addition of this platform will help prepare students to effectively use simulation tools they are likely to encounter in future post-secondary coursework and work environments.

Background:  Open Forum is an opportunity for patrons to share their thoughts and concerns.  The school board will listen, but no discussion takes place and there will not be board action.  Board members may ask clarifying questions. The protocol established for open forum is to provide a time limit of three minutes to share concerns.  If a patron would like to have a two-way discussion, they are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the superintendent. 

Appropriate and respectful public decorum is expected. Any complaints about school employees should refer to school board Policy KL: Complaint Against School Employee.

Background:  The Character Education trait for the month of February is "Courtesy," which includes graciousness, politeness, consideration, and good manners.

Background:  The Meade School District will join districts across the state to thank school board members for their leadership and service to our school district and community during South Dakota School Board Recognition Week from February 16-20, 2026. During School Board Recognition Week, the Meade School District invites students, staff, and community members to take part in thanking its school board members.

Background:  Curriculum Director Beth will present the proposed K-4 ELA curriculum.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt is requesting authorization to advertise for bids for the Stagebarn Middle School custodial services contract for 2026-27 and 2027-28. The ad will run 3/4/2026 and 3/11/2026 and bids are due in the Business Office by 2:00 pm on 3/26/2026. Bids will be presented to the board for review and approval on 4/13/2026.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt is requesting authorization to advertise for bids, RFP 26B, PVE custodial service contract for 2026-27 and 2027-28. The ads will run 3/4/2026 and 3/11/2026 with bids due in the Business Office by 2:30 pm on 3/26/2026. Bids will be presented to the board for review and approval on 4/13/2026.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt is requesting authorization to advertise the STEL custodial services RFP 26C on 3/4/2026 and 3/11/2026 and bids are due in the Business Office by 3:00 pm on 3/26/2026. Bids will be presented to the board on 4/13/2026 for review and approval.

Background:  The Business Office and Buildings & Grounds Department are requesting authorization to advertise for bids for the re-roofing of Piedmont Valley Elementary and to approve the contract. Bid advertisements will run on 2/18/2026 and 2/25/2026 with bids accepted until March 3, 2026.

Background:  The Business Office and Buildings & Grounds Department are requesting the Board to accept the proposal from Lowe Roofing, Inc. in the amount of $98,945.00 for the Sturgis Elementary Kitchen Reroofing Project.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt and Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt request Board approval of the agreement with Dakota Bus for student transportation services, effective July 1, 2026, through June 20, 2029.

Background:  Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt has provided the proposed 2026-27 school academic calendars for the board approval. 

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt is requesting authorization to extend the haying lease with Nic Uherka for an additional one-year term to allow time to evaluate the direction and needs of the FFA program.

Background:  The attached documents—including the project proposal, site layout, new equipment dimensions, and images of the proposed equipment—will be reviewed in preparation for further discussion. The goal is to bring this project back in March for consideration and authorization to sign a contract and lock in pricing.

Background:  Skyline Engineering, Inc. has provided a professional services agreement for electrical upgrades at Sturgis Williams Middle School and the Administration Building, including architectural fees and lighting design for battery-backed emergency and exit lighting as an alternative to a "Life Safety" generator system.

Background: 

Business Manager Brett Burditt will review the following documents with the Board:

1. Department of Revenue Maximum Capital Outlay Levy Worksheet

2. Capital Outlay Revenue Budget

3. Capital Outlay Expenditure Budget

Background:  Attached is the 2025-26 Annual Report. The report will be distributed electronically and as an insert in the BH Pioneer and Prospector.

Background:  Due to increased enrollment and the likelihood of continued growth in the Homeschool Connection Program, Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt recommends that the Board approve establishing the Homeschool Connection Program as its own educational structure (school) with the SD Department of Education. This designation would allow the program to operate as a standalone school with its own courses, sections, and assigned teachers, consistent with the setup of other district schools.

Background:  Attached is the outlined timeline for a Four-Day School Week review with a decision in January 2027 about a possible calendar change for the fall of 2027.

First step is to form a committee to review and report to the school board.  I would ask a board member to chair this committee jointly with another member of the committee.  The recommendation would come from the committee next January to proceed or not with a Four-Day School Week.

Background: 

This is the list of positions that will be reduced from the November board action.  

• Atall teacher 1 FTE
• Rural Paraprofessional 1 FTE
• Rural Paraprofessional 1 FTE
• 5^th Grade Teacher at Whitewood 1 FTE

Below is the list of recommended reductions in staffing for 2026-27 school year.  Many of these positions will be absorbed due to attrition from staff retiring or resigning.  Any future resignations this spring will allow for the additional elementary teachers to be absorbed.

At this time, we don’t believe we will non-renew any teacher contracts.  The high school had a resignation that will allow them to absorb a math teacher and keep the counseling position.

• WW/Rural admin reduction .15 FTE
• Rural Reading intervention teacher .45 FTE
• Gifted Program 1 FTE
• High School Assistant Principal 1 FTE
• High School Math Teacher 1 FTE instead of 1.0 FTE Counselor
• Rural Music .8 FTE to .5 FTE = .3 FTE reduced
• Rural Paraprofessional 1 FTE
• Rural Library Paraprofessional .25 FTE
• School Resource Officer
• 4 Elementary Teachers at PVE and STEL (TBD location depending on resignations and transfers)

If all this list is acted on and approved, this is over 13 FTE of reductions and has a total savings of $952,000.

We will continue to look at any future resignations and evaluate if the position can be absorbed for continued reductions through the spring and summer.

Updated Recommendation for Deficit document.

Background:  Board reports are enclosed in the Board packet.

Background: 
Legislative Update

Daycare conversations

Background:  Feb 10 & 12: Parent/Teacher Conferences
Feb 13: Teacher In-Service (no students)
Feb 16: No School (Presidents' Day)
Feb 16-20: ASBSD School Board Recognition Week
Feb 17: Finance Committee Meeting @ 4:30 pm
Feb 23: B&G Committee Meeting @ 3:30 pm
Feb 23: Policy Committee Meeting @ 5:00 pm
Feb 27: Teacher of the Year/Support Staff of the Year submittals due