Milbank School District Board Proceedings
Milbank School District Board Proceedings
March 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, Thue, Christensen, Schwandt and Trevett. Superintendent Justin Downes and Business Manager Nancy Meyer were also in attendance. Guests present were Jeanne Ward, Kathy Ward, Katie Pulscher, Hether Voeltz, Fred Deutsch, Christine Townsend, Janell Reyelts, Ryan Scoular, David Graf, Dan Snaza, and Andrea Hagen.
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Trevett to approve the agenda with the addition of Action Item U. Approve the Resignation of Renee Shelstad as teacher and Action Item V. Approve the resignation of Troy Gauer as Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Fred Deutsch addressed the school board announcing his candidacy for District 4 House of Representatives and gave a brief background of himself.
Christine Townsend and Janell Reyelts presented on the National ESEA Conference and their experiences from the elementary being recognized as a Nationally Distinguished School.
Milbank Elementary celebrated Read Across America week last week. Mr. Graf reported on the activities.
Discussion Items: Legislative Update and Snow Days.
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Trevett to approve the consent agenda that included:
• Approved of the minutes of the February School Board Meetings.
• Accept the Business Manager’s Financial Report.
Business Manager’s Monthly Report: General Fund: Balance 2-1-26, $1,239,685.86. Revenues: Taxes, $9,122.18; Interest, $361.13; Admissions, $3,447.00; Local Misc, $80,628.11; County Apportionment, $730.78; State Aid, $258,744.00; State Apportionment, $114,845.35; Bank Franchise, $88,578.02 Other State Revenue, $250.00; Federal Sources, $46,669.82. Expenditures: Salaries-Instructional, $375,904.63; Salaries-Support Services, $135,979.80; Salaries- Co-curricular, $36,469.51; Benefits-Instructional, $96,898.81; Benefits-Support Services, $40,590.85; Benefits- Co-curricular, $5,378.16; Purchased Services, $185,874.87; Supplies, $19,352.87. Balance 2-28-26, $946,612.75.
Capital Outlay Fund: Balance 2-1-26, $528,653.05. Revenues: Taxes, $5,279.94; Interest, $154.00. Expenditures: Purchased Services, $24,049.79; Supplies, $7,048.00; Capital Acquisitions, $1,042.88; Other, $2,368.84. Journal Entries, ($66,666.67). Balance 2-28-26, $432,910.81.
Special Education Fund: Balance 2-1-26, $259,846.34. Revenues: Taxes, $3,810.62; Interest, $75.69; State Aid, $21,639.00; IDEA Flowthrough, $22,963.00. Expenditures: Salaries-Instructional, $128,252.85; Salaries-Support Services, $23,954.59; Benefits- Instructional, $35,705.81; Benefits-Support Services, $6,326.45; Purchased Services, $27,648.59; Supplies, $319.46. Balance 2-28-26, $86,126.90.
Bond Redemption Fund: Balance 2-1-26, $764,747.84. Revenues: Taxes, $2,788.61; Interest, $222.78. Journal Entries, ($933,333.33). Balance 2-28-26, ($165,574.10).
Lunch Fund: Balance 2-1-26, $14,721.20. Revenues: Student Meals, $34,703.44; Adult Meals, $2,831.25; Ala Carte Sales, $1,940.00; Misc Income, $1,377.09; Federal Sources, $33,388.46. Expenditures: Salaries-Support Services, $33,366.36; Benefits-Support Services, $11,163.89; Purchased Services, $338.00; Supplies, $35,293.62. Balance 2-28-26, $8,799.57. Promissory Notes to General Fund, $8,200.00.
Enterprise Fund: Balance 2-1-26, $3,051.21. Revenues: OST Fees, $7,201.80. Expenditures: Salaries-Support Services, $7,571.78; Benefits-Support Services, $1,693.99; Purchased Services, $99.48; Supplies, $2,101.03. Balance 2-28-26, ($1,213.27). Promissory Notes to General Fund, $53,500.00.
Custodial Fund: Balance 2-1-26, $682,313.22. Revenues, $41,406.73. Expenditures, $29,301.61. Balance 2-28-26, $694,418.34.
• Approval of Bills presented for payment.
Bills Presented for Payment: Amazon Capital Services, Supplies, $6,455.82; AmericInn-Chamberlain, Lodging, $1,120.00; Andor Inc, Repairs, $1,625.84; Baymont-Pierre, Staff Travel, $121.57; Berens Market, Supplies, $352.17; Diane Berkner, Reimbursement, $55.00; Big Stone Therapies, Therapy Services, $19,214.83; Bimbo Bakeries, Bread, $402.15; BMO Harris Card, Supplies/Travel, $7,174.24; Brewster Building Center, Supplies, $46.87; Britton-Hecla School District, Registration, $318.86; Capfirst Equipment Finance, Loan Payment, $36,337.00; Cash-Wa Dist, Food, $6,376.97; Century Business Products, Copier Payment, $4,013.09; Chase Cards, Supplies/Travel, $6,832.80; Children’s Care Hospital & School, Tuition, $37,485.00; City of Milbank, Water/ Sewer, $2,580.27; Cole Papers, Supplies, $692.46; Combined Building Specialties, Repairs, $2,260.00; Command Performance Book, Supplies, $11.86; Commercial Kitchen Services, Repairs, $4,267.11; Curriculum Associates, Supplies, $278.88; Dakota Gasket, Repairs, $133.00; Dell Rapids School District, Region Boys Wrestling, $304.62; DeFea Transportation, Busing, $80,987.91; DeSmet School District, Region Girls Wrestling, $97.22; East Side Jersey Dairy, Milk, $2,759.16; First Western Equipment Finance, Floor Scrubber, $649.00; Food-N-Fuel, Fuel, $1,356.26; G&R Controls, Repairs, $3,245.68; Grant County Review, Publications, $260.80; Travis Graves, Supplies, $149.00; Hillyard, Supplies, $4,232.64; Holiday Inn, Travel, $856.00; House of Glass, Supplies, $5,115.21; Imprest Fund, Registration, $328.00; Imprest Fund, Professional Services, $4,344.07; Imprest Fund, Travel, $1,312.00; Interstate Power Systems, Repairs, $1,081.42; ITC, Phone Service, $267.18; Jostens, Yearbook Payment, $5,900.00; Kaitlin Knoll, Supplies, $119.86; Lewis Family Drug, Supplies, $5.29; Nancy Meyer, Supplies, $50.00; Mid-American Research Chemical, Supplies, $2,865.18; Midland Publishing & Printing, Advertising, $115.30; Milbank Bulldog Booster Club, Supplies, $79.20; Milbank Community Transit, Bus Service, $175.00; Milbank School Lunch Program, Supplies, $23.00; Milbank School Lunch, Student Workers, $77.00; NCS Pearson, Supplies, $5.85; Nelsons Electric, Repairs, $5,170.28; Northwestern Energy, Natural Gas, $16,994.21; Ortonville Independent, Advertising, $76.00; Otter Tail Power Co, Lights/Power, $25,298.29; Overhead Door, Repairs, $517.74; Oxygen Service Company, Supplies, $1,295.64; Parent, Mileage, $502.50; Performance Foodservice, Food, $3,063.32; Popplers Music Store, Supplies, $29.94; Professional Hearing Services, Professional Services, $2,475.00; Pye Barker Fire & Safety, Repairs, $730.00; Ramkota Hotel of Pierre, Travel, $112.00; Deborah Rausch, Professional Services, $2,100.00; Janell Reyelts, Per Diem/Reimb, $195.00; Riverside Insights, Supplies, $297.51; Runnings, Supplies, $29.97; Sarlettes Music, Repairs, $1,014.95; Alexis Schubert, Travel, $40.00; Robin Schuelke, Travel, $45.31; SD Dept of Human Services, Residential Services, $37,551.06; SD DOE-Child & Adult Nutrition Services, Food, $218.79; Star Laundry & Dry Cleaners, Supplies, $331.50; Nicole Stengel, Fuel, $154.88; Sysco North Dakota, Food, $19,835.82; Christine Townsend, Per Diem/Reimb, $232.00; Trapp Plumbing, Repairs, $389.28; Jay Trenhaile, Professional Services, $5,277.77; John Trevett, Reimbursement, $55.00; Tri State Water, Water, $71.95; Tubbs of Soft Water, Supplies, $239.48; Twin Valley Tire, Repairs, $251.10; US Omni & TSACG Compliance, Professional Services, $50.00; Verizon Wireless, Phone Service, $99.48; Whetstone Home Center, Supplies, $31.80; Whetstone Sanitation, Garbage Collection, $1,350.00; Carol Ydstie, Reimbursement, $55.00. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Thue to accept the resignation of Ryan Conrad as an Assistant Wrestling Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
A second reading of Policy BBBB was held. Motion by Christensen and seconded by Seffrood to approve the policy as read. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to accept the resignation of Halli Essington as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Christensen to accept the resignation of Jason Settje as a Paraprofessional. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Trevett to approve the hiring of Jason Settje as a Custodian at a rate of $17.75 per hour. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Seffrood to approve the hiring of Riley McCoy as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Trevett and seconded by Christensen to approve the hiring of Jalen Snaza as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Moton by Seffrood and seconded by Thue to approve the hiring of McKenna Van Zee as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Trevett to approve the hiring of Hayley Ward as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Seffrood to approve the hiring of Karissa Johnson as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Trevett and seconded by Christensen to approve the hiring of Mariah Snaza as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Trevett to approve the hiring of Mandy Snaza as Head Volleyball Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to approve Wade Ericsson as a Volunteer Softball Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Thue to approve Justin Downes as a Volunteer Softball Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Trevett to approve Tracey Boll as a Volunteer Softball Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Christensen and seconded by Seffrood to approve Ben Harstad as a Volunteer Track Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Thue to approve Molly Jackson as a Volunteer Track Coach. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to approve the Driver’s Education rate for 2026 at $320 per student. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Christensen to approve an Open Enrollment Application for a kindergarten student. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to approve the resignation of Renee Shelstad as a Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0
Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Christensen to approve the resignation of Troy Gauer as a Teacher. 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 – Due back on March 24th by 5:00 PM.
2. Special Olympics – March 28th and 29th, May 1st
3. Bond Refinancing
4. Otter Tail Rebate – $6,650
5. EMC Dividend $20,677.73
6. Ash Trees
7. Intent to Negotiate
8. Lead Testing
Motion by Thue and seconded by Seffrood to enter executive session for negotiations and personnel matters pursuant to SDCL 1.25.2 at 6:44 p.m. Motion carried. 5-0
Chair Schwandt declared executive session over at 8:31 p.m. and regular session resumed.
Motion by Thue and seconded by Trevett to adjourn at 8:32 p.m. Motion carried. 5-0
The next regular School Board meeting is set for Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the High School Building.
/s/ Richard Schwandt,
Chairman
/s/ Nancy M. Meyer,
Business Manager
