Milbank School District Board Proceedings
Milbank School District Board Proceedings
April 13, 2026
President, Richard Schwandt called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the high school building. The Pledge of Allegiance was said. Members present were Seffrood, Thue, Christensen, Schwandt, and Trevett. Superintendent Justin Downes and Business Manager Nancy Meyer were also in attendance. Guests present were Dan Snaza, Ryan Scoular, Katie Pulscher, David Graf, Andrea Hagen, Jody Hernandez, Jeannie Ward, and Kathy Ward.
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Trevett to approve the agenda with the addition of Action Item R. Approve the Resignation of Hannah Schrader as Assistant FFA Advisor, S. Approve Supplemental Contracts, T. Approve Eliminating April 16, 2027, as an In-Service Day, and U. Approve Out-of-State Travel Request for 8th Grade.
Jody Hernandez, representing the Boys and Girls Club, presented a proposal to the Board to open a Boys and Girls Club here within the school.
Discussion Items: Summer Projects and Club Sport Lettering.
An addendum to the agenda was presented. Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to approve the addition of Action Items R. Approve the Resignation of Hannah Schrader as Assistant FFA Advisor, S. Approve Supplemental Contracts, T. Approve Eliminating April 16, 2027, as an In-Service Day from the School Calendar, and U. Approve Out-of-State Travel Request for 8th Grade. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Trevett to approve the consent agenda that included:
• Approved of the minutes of the March School Board Meetings.
• Accept the Business Manager’s Financial Report.
Business Manager’s Monthly Report: General Fund: Balance 3-1-26, $949,612.75. Revenues: Taxes, $199,891.41; Interest, $115.97; Admissions, $1,142.64; Local Misc, $24,714.10; Medicaid Admin, $2,338.75; County Apportionment, $237.10; State Aid, $258,744.00; Federal Sources, $4,946.19. Expenditures: Salaries-Instructional, $366,937.44; Salaries-Support Services, $132,566.79; Salaries-Co-Curricular, $31,412.84; Benefits-Instructional, $94,669.92; Benefits-Support Services, $40,689.70; Benefits-Co-curricular, $5,129.62; Purchased Services, $132,774.09; Supplies, $30,696.73. Journal Entries, ($78,000.00). Balance 3-31-26, $528,865.78.
Capital Outlay Fund: Balance 3-1-26, $432,910.81. Revenues: Taxes, $160,618.04; Interest, $53.04. Expenditures: Purchased Services, $12,148.18; Supplies, $5,306.36; Capital Acquisitions, $649.00; Other, $37,521.42. Balance 3-31-26, $537,956.93.
Special Education Fund: Balance 3-1-26, $86,126.90. Revenues: Taxes, $101,780.04; Interest, $10.55; Medicaid Admin, $1,559.17; Medicaid Direct, $3,393.48; State Aid, $21,639.00. Expenditures: Salaries-Instructional, $124,329.18; Support Services, $22,843.69; Benefits-Instructional, $35,025.97; Benefits-Support Services, $6,213.20; Purchased Services, $102,957.08; Supplies, $492.62. Journal Entries, $78,000.00. Balance 3-31-26, $647.40. Promissory Notes to General Fund: $78,000.00.
Bond Redemption Fund: Balance 3-1-26, ($165,574.10). Revenues: Taxes, $51,212.89. Balance 3-31-26, ($114,361.21).
Lunch Fund: Balance 3-1-26, $8,799.57. Revenues: Student Meals, $37,285.42; Adult Meals, $3,210.75; Ala Carte Sales, $1,535.70; Misc Income, $23.00; Federal Sources, $30,629.33. Expenditures: Salaries-Support Services, $30,571.93; Benefits-Support Services, $10,798.52; Purchased Services, $132.00; Supplies, $29,057.00. Balance 3-31-26, $10,924.32. Promissory Notes to General Fund: $8,200.00.
Enterprise Fund: Balance 3-1-26, ($1,213.27). Revenues: Tuition, $8,760.00; OST Fees, $10,171.98. Expenditures: Salaries-Support Services, $7,281.11; Benefits-Support Services, $1,641.67; Purchased Services, $210.43; Supplies, $425.24. Balance 3-31-26, $8,160.26. Promissory Notes to General Fund: $53,500.00.
• Approval of Bills presented for payment.
Bills Presented for Payment: Amazon Capital Services, Supplies, $3,502.77; Berens Market, Supplies, $1,063.00; Big Stone Therapies, Professional Services, $23,139.12; Bimbo Bakeries, Food, $689.68; BMO Harris Card, Supplies/Postage/Travel, $6,558.87; Brewster Building Center, Supplies, $197.57; Cash-Wa Dist, Food, $13,519.18; Century Business Products, Supplies, $113.72; Chase Cards: Supplies/Travel, $3,491.38; Children’s Care Hospital & School, Tuition, $19,728.00; City of Milbank, Water/Sewer, $2,597.50; Coates Piano Service, Tuning, $459.00; Cole Papers, Supplies, $758.76; DeFea Transportation, Busing, $88,573.64; East Side Jersey Dairy, Milk, $3,621.63; Elite Drain & Sewer Cleaning, Repairs, $870.00; Wade Ericsson, Coaching Class, $70.00; First Western Equipment Finance, Scrubber, $649.00; Cynthia Fish, Background Check, $50.00; Food-N-Fuel, Fuel, $1,488.22; G&R Controls, Repairs, $2,374.71; Grant County Review, Publications, $187.54; Hauff Mid-America Sports, Supplies, $1,170.00; Health Equity, HSA Fees, $88.00; Hillyard, Supplies, $12,273.76; Impact Applications, Software, $192.00; Imprest Fund, Registration, $884.00; Imprest Fund, Professional Services, $801.38; Instrumentalist Awards, Registration, $328.00; ITC, Phone Service, $275.53; Lewis Drug, Supplies, $10.17; Macksteel Warehouse, Supplies, $485.20; Holly McKernan, Supplies, $2,731.00; Nancy Meyer, Registration, $125.00; Mid-American Research Chemical, Supplies, $3,792.15; Midland Publishing & Printing, Advertising, $299.78; Milbank Bulldog Booster Club, OST Shelving, $621.24; Milbank School Lunch Program, Testing Snacks, $117.00; Milbank School Lunch, Student Workers, $91.00; NCS Pearson, Supplies, $96.05; Nelsons Electric, Repairs, $1,459.77; Northern State University, Supplies, $40.97; Northwestern Energy, Natural Gas, $11,872.45; Ortonville Independent, Advertising, $190.00; Otter Tail Power, Lights/ Power, $26,160.97; Oxygen Service Company, Supplies, $531.77; Parent, Mileage, $777.20; Parent, Mileage, $176.40; Parent, Mileage, $335.00; Amelia Pederson, Background Check, $50.00; Performance Foodservice, Food, $919.63; Kelli Pillatzki, Tie Per Diem, $80.00; Plunkett’s Pest Control, Repairs, $122.24; Poppler’s Music, Supplies, $439.94; Professional Hearing Services, Professional Services, $110.00; Pye Barker Fire & Safety, Repairs, $1,211.00; Deb Rausch, Professional Services, $2,040.00; Region Music Contest, Registration, $160.00; Catherine Reiter, Background Check, $50.00; Riverside Insights, Supplies, $371.55; Roys Sport Shop, Supplies, $63.92; Sarlettes Music, Repairs, $680.85; Kevin Schnaser, Translating Service, $382.50; Robin Schuelke, Supplies, $94.20; SD Dept of Human Services, Residential Services, $31,728.98; SDAAE, Registration, $65.00; Diana Snaza, Supplies, $120.00; Star Laundry & Dry Cleaners, Professional Services, $588.23; Sysco, Food, $22,090.75; Breyden Tasa, Background Check, $50.00; Christine Townsend, Coaching Class, $35.00; Jay Trenhaile, Professional Services, $5,277.77; John Trevett, Travel, $97.36; Tri State Water, Supplies, $168.95; Twin Valley Tire, Repairs, $222.95; US Bank, Paying Agent Fee, $700.00; Verizon Wireless, Phone Service, $99.48; Webster School District, Registration, $5.00; Whetstone Sanitation, Garbage Collection, $1,350.00.
• Approval of a Promissory Note from General Fund to Special education of $78,000. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Trevett to accept the resignation of Brady Femling as an Assistant Wrestling Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Trevett and seconded by Thue to accept the resignation of Alexis Schubert as a Middle School Oral Interp Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to accept the resignation of Carter Malone as a Teacher and a Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Trevett to accept the resignation of Logan Diede as an Assistant Golf Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Trevett and seconded by Thue to accept the resignation of Shana Vander Grift as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Trevett to accept the resignation of Owen Fischer as a Paraprofessional. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to approve Annelies Seffrood as a Board member for the Equalization Meeting at the Grant County Courthouse on April 14, 2026. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Trevett to approve authorizing continued membership in SDHSAA. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Trevett and seconded by Thue to approve the hiring of Cynthia Wiseman as a kitchen worker at $18.45 per hour. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Trevett to approve the hiring of Judith Shakespaere as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Thue to approve the hiring of Tatum Berry as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Trevett to approve and open enrollment application for a 7th Grade student who is currently enrolled in Milbank, but family has moved outside of the district. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Thue to approve a lane change for Katie Sinner Pulscher from Lane 5 Step 6 to Lane 6 Step 7. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Trevett and seconded by Christensen to approve an Out-of-State Travel for National Speech and Debate to Richmond, VA, June 14-19, 2026, for one student and one advisor. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to accept the FY25 Audit. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Seffrood to approve Certified Staff Contracts. Motion carried. 5-0
Reports were received by Elementary Principal, David Graf, Middle School Principal/AD, Ryan Scoular, High School Principal, Dan Snaza, and Special Services Director, Andrea Hagen.
Superintendent Downes reported on the following:
1. Board Petitions – Matt Trevett returned his petition and will be unopposed for the open board position. No election will be held.
2. Insurance Rate/NPIP Pool
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to enter executive session at 6:40 p.m. for negotiations and personnel matters pursuant to SDCL 1.25.2 at 6:44 PM. Motion carried. 5-0
Chair Schwandt declared executive session over at 8:23 p.m. and regular session resumed.
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to adjourn at 8:26 PM. Motion carried. 5-0
The next regular School Board meeting is set for Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the High School Building.
/s/ Richard Schwandt,
Chairman
/s/ Nancy M. Meyer,
Business Manager
