May 28, 2024 at 5:00 PM - DOUGLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION

Rationale:  Lifeways will provide tobacco and drug prevention services, as well as treatment for students who have used or misused illegal substances (with parent permission).  Lifeways is seeking their own funding to provide a full-time counselor at the MS and HS, and potentially, in the future, at Vandenberg.  There is no cost to DSD.  A draft MOU is attached.

Rationale:  "Friends of the Children" identifies highly at-risk 4 and 5- year old students and provides trained mentors who support the student and family throughout the student's academic career (through high school and career selection).  The mentors assist the teacher in students' classrooms 2 - 3 times a week, supporting the class with social-emotional and academic assistance.  Three DSD students have been identified for support for the 2024-2025 school year.  

Rationale:  A new combined MS, HS, Athletics and  Activities Handbook has been developed for consistency in policy and practice for DSD students.  The Athletic Directors of the MS and HS will present this information.

Rationale: 

Information:

We received a proposed  list of eligible employees for the bargaining unit, based on our records, we show 22 current bus drivers along with 2 unfilled positions totaling 24 along with 3 current bus aides and 1 unfilled position totaling 4.  We believe the bargaining unit should consist of 28 employees.

Rationale:  This past school year we have been working with Ellie Martinez, with Leadership Matters to support continuous improvement of our administrative team.  We plan to reflect with the board of education on this year's experiences as a group.  

Rationale:  As part of our due diligence with planning for the new Track and Field, we have been working with MDU. During that process, we discovered that our current gas lines that feed Carrousel, DHS, The Football Stadium, and Francis Case, were installed in the 1970's, are buried 5 feet deep under our football field.  In an effort to eliminate potential downtime with all buildings listed above (+/- 2 weeks if we were to have any problems), they propose moving them to a more accessible location while we're working on our track and field.  With this proposal, each building will have a "home run" off of the main line.  They gave us a proposal to move the lines as illustrated on the attachment.  The Executive Leadership Team and Jace's recommendation is to proceed with installing new poly lines and add this expense to the Capital Outlay budget that I will bring forward for next school year.

Rationale:  Polices within Section I, Instruction are in need of revision.  Some policies contained within date back to 1994.

Policies are all within the section designated for Instruction and Instructional Practices. 

Revisions include standard superintendent/designee and grammatic corrections as well as updated SDCL references.

IGAB- Human Relations Education has been pared down to simply align with language contained within SDCL.

IGABA - Aids Education is an outdated policy, not required by law, and not in line with current practice... propose Deleting.

IGAD- Occupational Education has been expanded to reflect all 16 of the South Dakota CTE Career Clusters. 

IGBA- Programs for Children with Disabilities underwent an ASBSD overhaul in 2020.  This version reflects those updates and input from Special Services Coordinator.

IGBB - Programs for Gifted Students is updated to reflect a more current stance on student needs/abilities and a description of beneficial opportunities potentially available to all students.



 

Rationale:  Policies IGBC - INGA are in need of revision, review or deletion.

IGBC - English Learner instruction recently underwent an overhaul through ASBSD.  This version reflects those updates in terminology and alignment with fed requirements.
Since INFORMATIONAL READING a section on Student Placement was added at the request of Exec Sec. 

IGEB - Honorary High School Diplomas has been extended to Veterans beyond those who served in WWII.  This aligns with State Statute.

IH - Distance Delivery This policy refers specifically to the old DDN network equipment used around 2005 and can be deleted.  Obsolete.

IIAC - Library Material Selection is updated to reflect new ASBSD version proposed after recent legislation.  Improves language on balance, controversial subjects, selection criteria, and review period.  

IICA - Field Trips may deleted as it is covered within JHFAA and IGD

IKAD-R Reportion to Parents is revised by to reflect correct terminology.

IKF - Graduation Requirements eliminates reference to NCA, which is no longer our accrediting commission. 

ING - Animals in Schools is combined with INGA (deleted) and is more specific regarding requirements and permission.





 

Rationale:  We are introducing a new Tuition Assistance Program aimed at supporting staff members in acquiring advanced degrees or endorsements crucial for high-needs positions within the Douglas School District.

This program is template from one provided at the state level through School Administrators of South Dakota. This program additionally aligns with our commitment to encouraging professional growth, continuous improvement,  and ensuring the ongoing qualification of existing staff.

This policy and exhibit have been reviewed and approved by district legal staff.  

Rationale:  We've asked all administrators to think creatively regarding hiring decisions and consider the questions, Why are we doing this?  Why are we doing it this way?  Who's needs are being met by doing it this way?  Recognizing the difficulties inherent with hiring evening custodians, Mr. Waltman researched the benefits of hiring a contracted service to fill vacancies at Douglas Middle School.  Attached is the contract.  The service appears to meet the cleaning needs of the district.  There are no job losses as a result of this contract.  

Rationale:  We will discuss proposed scenarios for non certified staff member, coordinators, principals, and executive leadership raises.