May 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM - DOUGLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION

Rationale: 

Douglas School District is committed to supporting the early learning needs of our community and ensuring all children enter kindergarten with a strong foundation for academic and social success. Our existing prekindergarten programming has seen a significant increase in interest, with approximately 125 students expressing a desire to enroll for the upcoming school year. In response to this demonstrated need, we are requesting the addition of 1.0 FTE certified and 1.0 FTE classified staff to open an additional full-time PreK section.

This additional section will allow us to better serve eligible students within our community while maintaining small, developmentally appropriate class sizes. The program will continue to prioritize placement for students based on the following qualifying criteria:

• The child qualifies for special education and/or speech services

• The child meets federal income guidelines for free or reduced lunch

• The child qualifies for English Language services

• The child has been in the foster care system or is homeless

• The student is a child of an active duty member of the armed forces

• The child comes from a single parent household

• The student is a child of a teenage parent

By expanding our PreK programming in alignment with these established criteria, we aim to ensure equitable access to high-quality early learning experiences. The PreK program is designed to promote cognitive, social, and emotional growth, ultimately preparing students for long-term educational success. This staffing addition represents a proactive investment in our youngest learners and reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of families in the Douglas School District.

Rationale:  Recognize the ongoing efforts at Douglas High School to provide meaningful extracurricular opportunities that enhance student development and to support continued planning for future growth and improvement. Douglas High School (DHS) is proud to offer a wide range of extracurricular activities that support the academic, social, and emotional development of students. The 2024-2025 school year reflected continued growth in student engagement, community involvement, and leadership development through clubs, athletics, and academic competitions.

Rationale:  Allowing a gravel pit right outside the city limits of Box Elder creates a number of challenges, including increased traffic and unnecessary wear and tear on roads, potential environmental impact on students, safety concerns with heavy truck traffic, and the potential loss of property valuations within a mile radius of the gravel pit, which will impact district valuation and capital outlay funding.   

Rationale:  Policy JECB has been updated to reflect changes in current district practice and timelines regarding the open enrollment of non-resident students. The revisions are designed to clarify eligibility requirements, streamline application and approval procedures.

Rationale:  Board Policy GCPD-(N) - is being brought forward for an informational reading following discussions during this year’s negotiations. It was recommended that the final bullet point in the policy be removed to ensure consistency with the current negotiated agreement language. 

Rationale:  We believe the proposed language in Policy GBN effectively meets the needs of the district. It supports a fair, consistent, and transparent process.

Rationale:  House Bill 1068, passed during the most recent South Dakota Legislative Session, establishes new legal requirements that directly impact school district policy. To ensure compliance with state law, the district must implement a new policy aligned with the provisions of the bill. This policy will allow the district to meet its legal obligations while maintaining consistency and accountability in its operations.

Rationale:  The proposed GBED Fragrance-Free Workplace policy supports the district’s goal of fostering a healthy and distraction-free work environment for all staff, students, and visitors. It addresses medical sensitivities and allergic reactions by prohibiting the use of scented personal and decorative products in district facilities. 

Rationale:  We recommend the Board of Education approve the purchase of the Blue Bird bus as the next lowest responsible bid. The original low bid for the Thomas bus was recalled by the bidder after significantly altering their submitted proposal, making it no longer valid. As a result, the Blue Bird bus represents the lowest remaining responsible bid, and we recommend approval.

Rationale:  Recommends approval of the updated HVAC Technician job description to accurately reflect the current responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations of this position. This role is essential to maintaining safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient learning environments across all district facilities. This is not a new position but a replacement of an existing full-time equivalent (FTE) within the district’s maintenance department.