Milbank School District Board Proceedings
Milbank School District Board Proceedings
February 9, 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, Amy Thue, Christensen, Schwandt and Matt Trevett. Superintendent Justin Downes and Business Manager Nancy Meyer were also in attendance. Guests present were Jeanne Ward, Kathy Ward, Chris Hicks, Katie Pulscher, Nicole Stengel, Ryan Kohl, Sara Johnson, Jeremy Steffensen, Jake Folk, Brittney Folk, Ryan Scoular, David Graf, Dan Snaza, and Andrea Hagen.
Superintendent Downes opened the public comment section by reading a statement from the school district regarding the incident that occurred on Friday, February 6, 2026. Thank you to all law enforcement for the rapid response and for the staff on how they handled the situation.
Ryan Kohl addressed the school board announcing his candidacy for District 4 House of Representatives and gave a brief background of himself.
Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. 5-0
Discussion Items: School Board Recognition and Legislative Update.
Matthew Trevett was installed as a new member of the Board replacing Jeremy Steffensen.
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Seffrood to approve the consent agenda that included:
• Approval of the minutes of the January School Board Meetings.
• Accept the Business Manager’s Financial Report.
Business Manager’s Monthly Report: General Fund: Balance 1-1-26, $1,691,551.93. Revenues: Taxes, $38,612.40; Interest, $619.98; Local Misc, $48,900.56; Medicaid Admin, $1,404.86; County Apportionment, $14,334.00; State Aid, $258,744.00; Federal Sources, $36,301.08. Expenditures: Salaries-Instructional, $356,836.38; Salaries-Support Services, $129,788.19; Salaries-Co-Curricular, $39,599.52; Benefits-Instructional, $94,788.32; Benefits-Support Services, $40,289.07; Benefits-Co-curricular, $5,806.47; Purchased Services, $147,609.05; Supplies, $36,065.95. Balance 1-31-26, $1,239,685.86.
Capital Outlay Fund: Balance 1-1-26, $701,461.13. Revenues: Taxes, $17,460.92; Interest, $255.13. Expenditures: Purchased Services, $12,857.22; Supplies, $42,585.00; Capital Acquisitions, $36,903.84; Other, $98,178.07. Balance 1-31-26, $528,653.05.
Special Education Fund: Balance 1-1-26, 434,023.88. Revenues: Taxes, $14,025.92; Interest, $157.86; Medicaid Admin, $936.58; State Aid, $21,639.00; Federal Sources, $28,613.00. Expenditures: Salaries-Instructional, $101,706.20; Salaries-Support Services, $21,965.57; Benefits-Instructional, $31,368.40; Benefits-Support Service, $6,111.77; Purchased Services, $78,297.93; Supplies, $100.03. Balance 1-31-26, $259,846.34.
Bond Redemption Fund: Balance 1-1-26, $988,719.44. Revenues: Taxes, $5,678.80; Interest, $359.60. Expenditures: Other, $230,010.00. Balance 1-31-26, $764,747.84.
Lunch Fund: Balance 1-1-26, $866.13. Revenues: Student Meals, $40,620.26; Adult Meals, $2,683.50; Ala Carte Sales, $2,373.00; Misc Income, $392.83; Federal Sources, $51,023.25. Expenditures: Salaries-Support Services, $23,283.86; Benefits-Support Services, $10,009.02; Purchased Services, $181.01; Supplies, $49,763.88. Balance 1-31-26, $14,721.20. Promissory Notes to General Fund: $8,200.00.
Enterprise Fund: Balance 1-1-26, $3,140.40. Revenues: OST Fees, $10,727.49. Expenditures: Salaries-Support Services, $7,640.12; Benefits-Support Services, $1,673.83; Purchased Services, $99.48; Supplies, $1,403.25. Balance 1-31-26, $3,051.21. Promissory Notes to General Fund: $53,500.00.
Custodial Accounts: Balance 1-1-26, $730,530.03. Revenues, $31,916.63; Expenditures, $80,133.41. Balance 1-31-26, $682,313.25.
• Approval of Bills presented for payment.
Bills Presented for Payment: Amazon Capital Services, Supplies, $2,713.49; Badlands Distribution, Food, $471.80; Berens Market, Supplies, $296.39; Big Stone Therapies, Therapy Services, $20,527.45; Bimbo Bakeries, Food, $965.16; BMO Harris Card, Supplies/Travel, $8,819.90; Brewster Building Center, Supplies, $876.11; Patrick Buttke, Background Check, $50.00; Cash Wa Distribution, Food, $4,419.42; Century Business Products, Copier Payment, $8,052.70; Chase Card, Supplies/Travel, $2,276.42; City of Milbank, Water/Sewer, $7,307.99; Cole Papers, Supplies, $484.32; Sara Colombe, Supplies, $44.23; Comfort Suites University, Staff Travel, $222.00; Command Performance Book, Supplies, $105.50; Commercial Kitchen Services, Repairs, $844.76; Culinex, Repairs, $640.83; Cindy Davis, Reimbursement, $55.00; DeFea Transportation, Busing, $77,671.31; Miranda Dunnihoo, Travel, $61.21; East Side Jersey Dairy, Milk, $6,409.29; Ewell Education, Supplies, $390.00; First Western Equipment Finance, Scrubber, $649.00; Food-N-Fuel, Fuel, $1,439.67; Lisa Forrette, Reimbursement, $55.00; G&R Controls, Repairs, $1,900.62; Grant County Review, Publications, $197.00; Grant County Treasurer, Taxes, $547.92; Travis Graves, Supplies, $449.00; Julie Hallquist, Reimbursement, $55.00; Hasslen Construction, Repairs, $12,100.00; Health Equity, HSA Fees, $82.00; Hillyard, Supplies, $432.64; Imprest Fund, Registration, $2,272.51; Imprest Fund, Professional Services, $4,927.57; Imprest Fund, Travel, $136.00; ITC, Phone Service, $250.11; Jefferson High School Debate, Registration, $120.00; Angela Johnson, Reimbursement, $55.00; Sara Johnson, Reimbursement, $55.00; Jostens Inc, Supplies, $40.59; JW Pepper, Supplies, $139.65; KONE Inc, Maintenance, $299.10; Macksteel Warehouse, Supplies, $1,507.28; Darlene Madsen, Reimbursement, $55.00; Kelly Mastel, Reimbursement, $55.00; McGraw Hill, Supplies, $169.14; Mickelson Middle School, Registration, $550.00; Midland Publishing & Printing, Advertising, $57.65; Milbank Bulldog Booster Club, EL Tutoring, $44.00; Milbank Chamber of Commerce, Registration, $225.00; Milbank Community Transit, Busing, $178.00; Milbank Lunch Program, Adult Meals/Supplies, $1,836.70; Milbank School Lunch, Student Workers, $73.00; Joshua Mueller, Background Check, $50.00; NCS Pearson, Supplies, $57.30; Pam Nelson, Reimbursement, $55.00; Nelsons Electric, Repairs, $19,785.30; Northwestern Energy, Natural Gas, $10,780.14; NWEA, Software, $5,550.00; OtterTail Power, Lights/Power, $26,650.82; Oxygen Service Company, Supplies, $673.42; Parent, Mileage, $777.20; Performance Foodservice, Food, $4,156.16; Popplers Music Store, Supplies, $850.97; Procare Software, Software Renewal, $1,548.00; Ramkota Hotel-Pierre, Staff Lodging, $555.80; Deborah Rausch, Professional Services, $1,830.00; Rebentify Technologies, Software License, $1,049.00; Runnings, Supplies, $101.49; Sarlettes Music, Repairs, $395.62; Kevin Schnaser, Professional Services, $382.50; Schwandt Law Prof, Attorney Fees, $64.06; SD DOE-Child & Adult Nutrition Services, $1,587.42; SDAAE, Registration, $65.00; SDRS Special Pay Plan, Post Employment Benefits, $1,131.95; Jason Settje, Reimbursement, $55.00; Jaicelyn Shakespaere, Reimbursement, $55.00; Judith Shakespaere, Reimbursement, $55.00; Bonita Spiering, Reimbursement, $55.00; David Spors, Reimbursement, $55.00; Star Laundry & Dry Cleaners, Cleaning Service, $1,357.10; Street Graphex, Supplies, $15.62; Sysco-ND, Food, $17,086.46; Jay Trenahile, Professional Services, $5,277.77; Tubbs of Soft Water, Repairs, $6,357.63; Twin Valley Tire, Repairs, $110.00; Kathy Tyler, Professional Services, $100.00; US Omni & TSA Compliance, Professional Services, $150.00; Valley Office Products, Supplies, $41.82; Shana VanderGrift, Reimbursement, $55.00; Verizon Wireless, Phone Service, $99.48; Whetstone Home Center, Supplies, $106.54; Whetstone Sanitation, Garbage Collection, $1,350.00; Mary Winther, Reimbursement, $55.00; Wohlenberg Ritzman, Audit Services, $18,862.95; Karen Zagami, Professional Services, $55.00.
• Approve QZAB Payment of $66,667 and is the final payment on these bonds. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Christensen to accept the resignation of Janelle Wollschlager as High School Student Council Co-Advisor. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Seffrood to accept the resignation from Yanet Guillen as a Paraprofessional. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Christensen to approve Pam Neugebauer as Assistant Musical – Vocal advisor at a salary of $1,860. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to approve the hiring of June Skovbo as a Paraprofessional at a rate of $16.75 per hour. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Seffrood to approve the hiring of Nora Margarita Escudero Quintero as a Paraprofessional at a rate of $16.65 per hour. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to approve the hiring of Amelia Pederson as Paraprofessional at a rate of $16.50 per hour. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Christensen to approve the activation of Experience Pay for Dan Snaza. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Seffrood to approve the activation of Experience Pay for Chad Nolz. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Thue to approve the Combined Election Agreement between the City of Milbank, Grant County, and the school district. The election will be held on June 2, 2026. 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. Teacher of the Year Process
2. Position Opening Updates
3. 25-26 Snow Make-up Dates
4. School and Public Lands $110,420.24 FY25, $114,845.33 FY26
5. Wrestling Petition to Class A
6. School Threat
Motion by Thue and seconded by Seffrood to enter executive session for personnel matters pursuant to SDCL 1.25.2 at 6:33 p.m. Motion carried. 5-0
Chair Schwandt declared executive session over at 8:06 p.m. and regular session resumed.
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to adjourn at 8:07 p.m. Motion carried. 5-0
The next regular School Board meeting is set for Monday, March 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the High School Building.
/s/ Richard Schwandt,
Chairman
/s/ Nancy M. Meyer,
Business Manager
