Milbank School District Board Proceedings – January 8, 2024

January 8, 2024

President Schwandt called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.in the Board Room of the high school building. Members present were Thue, Seffrood, Schwandt, Steffensen and Christensen. Superintendent Justin Downes and Business Manager Nancy Meyer were also in attendance. Guests present were Emelia Enquist, Nicole Stengel, Marie Ivers, David Graf, Dan Snaza and Ryan Scoular. 

Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Christensen to approve the agenda with the additions of Action Items P. Approve the Activation of Experience Pay for Tammy Mielitz and Miriam Schwenn. Approve the seeking of bids for Roof Replacements on the Theater. Motion carried. 5-0

No one addressed the board during the Community Input Session.

Discussion Item: Student Enrollment Update, Covid Discussion, and first reading of Policy KLB, KLB-E(1) and KLB-E(2). 

Motion by Steffensen and seconded by Thue to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried. 5-0

Items included were: 

• Approve minutes of December School Board Meeting. 

• Accept Business Manager’s Financial Report.

Business Manager’s Monthly Report: General Fund: Balance 12-1-23, $2,195,711.69. Revenues: Taxes, $126,549.01; Interest, $708.78; Admissions, $4,250.00; Local Misc, $6,732.63; Medicaid Admin, $1,352.33; County Apportionment, $207.93; State Aid, $288,468.00; Federal Sources, $11,121.20. Expenditures: Salaries-Instructional, $345,276.50; Support Services, $136,912.70; Salaries-Co- Curricular, $32,540.90; Benefits-Instructional, $91,719.79; Benefits-Support Services, $42,432.60; Benefits-Co- Curricular, $5,574.21; Purchased Services, $119,823.53; Supplies, $36,791.69. Journal Entries, ($114,000.00). Balance 12-31-23, $1,710,029.65.

Capital Outlay Fund: Balance 12-1-23, $1,174,828.84. Revenues: Taxes, $94,784.86; Interest, $379.22. Expenditures: Purchased Services, $38,617.96; Supplies, $2,698.90; Capital Acquisitions, $11,589.62; Other, $93,270.71. Journal Entries, ($109,500.00). Balance 12-31-23, $1,014,315.73.

Special Education Fund: Balance 12-1-23, $32,761.86. Revenues: Taxes, $84,583.92; Interest, $10.58; Medicaid Admin, $450.78; Medicaid Direct Services, $8,931.70; Federal Sources, $1,025.73. Expenditures: Salaries-Instructional, $123,564.52; Salaries-Support Services, $27,515.24; Benefits- Instructional, $35,151.87; Benefits-Support Services, $8,632.21; Purchased Services, $45,637.31; Supplies, $819.35. Journal Entries, $114,000.00. Balance 12-31-23, $444.07.

Bond Redemption Fund: Balance 12-1-23, $786,466.75. Revenues: Taxes, $56,810.67; Interest, $253.86. Expenditures: Other, $255,310.00. Balance 12-31-23, $588,221.28.

Capital Projects Fund: Balance 12-1-23, $5,002.96. Expenditures: Capital Acquisitions, $114,165.67. Journal Entries, $109,500.00. Balance 12-31-23, $337.29.

Lunch Fund: Balance 12-1-23, $156,335.57. Revenues: Student Meals, $29,982.98; Adult Meals, $2,796.60; A la Carte Sales, $1,721.50; Misc Income, $52.75; Federal Sources, $66,689.19. Expenditures: Salaries-Support Services, $34,106.75; Benefits-Support Services, $9,826.67; Purchased Services, $152.83; Supplies, $71,777.91. Balance 12-31-23, $141,714.42.

Enterprise Fund: Balance 12-1-23, $14,079.28. Revenues: Student Fees-OST, $4,967.54. Expenditures: Salaries-Support Services, $7,976.96; Benefits- Support Services, $1,699.49; Purchased Services, $102.74; Supplies, $636.27. Balance 12-31-23, $8,631.36.

Trust & Agency Fund: Balance 12-1-23, $603,526.59. Revenues, $38,619.12. Expenditures, $54,583.23. Balance 12-31-23, $587,562.48.

• Approval of Bills presented for payment.

Bills Presented for Payment: 3D Security, Maintenance, $1,500.00; Active Heating, Repairs, $6,548.55; Amazon Capital Services, Supplies, $1,287.78; Arrowwood Resort, Staff Travel, $98.12; Berens Grocery, Supplies, $207.33; Big Stone Therapies, Therapy Services, $44,147.25; Bimbo Bakeries, Bread, $964.30; Blick Art Materials, Supplies, $265.88; BMO Harris Card, Supplies, $2,244.60; Brewster Building Center, Supplies, $3,633.88; Cash Wa Distributing, Food, $24,821.68; Century Business Products, Copier Payment, $3,669.60; Chase Cards, Travel, Supplies, $5,485.29; Children’s Care Hospital & School, Tuition, $19,380.00; Children’s Home Society, Tuition, $4,695.57; City of Milbank, Water/Sewer, $1,865.47; Culinex, Supplies, $891.71; DeFea Transportation, Busing, $65,279.93; Dramatic Publishing Co, Supplies, $220.00; East Side Jersey Dairy, Milk, $2,969.19; Elite Drain & Sewer Cleaning, Repairs, $307.50; EMC Insurance, Premium, $5,369.00; Food-N-Fuel, Fuel, $1,237.62; G & R Controls, Repairs, $1,427.55; Grant County Review, Publications, $82.00; Travis Graves, Professional Services, $1,500.00; Andrea Hagen, Professional Services, $1,000.00; Hasslen Construction, Building Improvements, $13,634.49; Health Equity, HSA Fees, $78.00; Mariah Hicks, Background Check, $43.25; Hillyard Inc, Supplies, $10,211.11; Imprest Fund, Registration, $985.00; Imprest Fund, Professional Services, $1,983.73; ITC, Phone Service, $257.22; Jaymar Business Forms, Supplies, $152.76; Braeden Johnson, Background Check, $43.25; Langford Public School, Perkins Travel, $831.90; Shelby Lee, Background Check, $43.25; Macksteel Warehouse, Supplies, $616.65; Mid-American Research Chemical, Supplies, $2,175.58; Midland Publishing & Printing, Advertising, $46.12; Milbank Chamber of Commerce, Dues, $225.00; Milbank Community Transit, Busing, $868.00; Milbank School Lunch, Student Workers, $64.00; Nardini Fire Equipment, Supplies, $1,234.00; NCS Pearson, Supplies, $193.34; Nelson Electric, Repairs, $10,319.17; Northern State University, Textbooks, $1,168.44; Northwestern Energy, Natural Gas, $5,968.66; Sheila Opitz, Background Check, $43.25; OtterTail Power, Lights/Power, $19,229.08; Overhead Door-Watertown, Repairs, $540.82; Oxygen Service Company, Supplies, $409.26; Parent, Mileage, $127.50; Paxton/Patterson, Equipment, $11,980.00; Plunketts Pest Control, Professional Service, $113.02; Popp Binding & Laminating, Supplies, $239.45; Deborah Rausch, Professional Services, $623.00; Jada Rethke, Refund, $10.70; Runnings, Supplies, $128.47; Herendira Salazar Fuentes, Professional Services, $200.00; Sarlettes Music, Repairs, $958.15; SASD, Registration, $90.00; Schwandt Law Professionals, Attorney Fees, $31.25; Richard Schwandt, Travel, $39.13; SD Dept of Human Services, $21,754.94; SD DOE-Child & Adult Nutrition Services, Food, $1,756.42; SD Retailers Association, Dues, $195.00; Star Laundry & Dry Cleaners, Cleaning Services, $1,496.10; Tri State Water, Water/Cooler, $80.30; TSA Consulting, Professional Services, $50.00; Tubbs of Soft Water, Supplies, $196.47; Twin Valley Tire, Repairs, $597.23; US Bank, Interest, $69,792.50; Valley Office Products, Supplies, $155.21; Verizon Wireless, Phone Service, $102.74; Marea Waldner, Background Check, $43.25; Whetstone Sanitation, Garbage Collection, $1,486.80; Zems Inc, Supplies, $2,098.00.

Approve of Special Ed Promissory Note of $114,000 to General Fund. Approval of transfer from Capital Outlay to Capital Projects for $109,500.

Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to approve an open enrollment application for an eighth grade student from Big Stone City. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Steffensen to approve having a combined election with the City of Milbank and Grant County on June 4, 2024. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Christensen and seconded by Thue to accept the resignation Nicole Berg as Assistant Softball Coach. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Thue to accept the resignation of Mariah Tietjen as Elementary Music Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to accept the resignation of Hannah Rick as Elementary Teacher. Motion carried. 5-0.

Motion by Steffensen and seconded by Seffrood to accept the resignation of Gentrie Vatthauer as a Paraprofessional. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to approve the hiring of Gentrie Vatthauer as an Elementary Teacher for the balance of the 2023-24 school year at a salary of $24,365. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Steffensen and seconded by Thue to approve the hiring of Jason Settje as a Paraprofessional at a rate of $15.60. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Steffensen to approve the hiring of Kelly Mastel as a Kitchen Worker at $15.50 per hour. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to increase wages of Max Schuelke as OST worker to $11.20. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Christensen and seconded by Steffensen to approve updates to the Crisis Management Plan. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Thue to approve updates to the School Improvement Plan. Motion carried.5-0

Motion by Thue and seconded by Christensen to accept the monetary gift of $4,529 from the Milbank School District Endowment fund to be used to music and HOSA. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Christensen and seconded by Seffrood to approve the activation of Experience Pay for Miriam Schwenn. Mrs. Schwenn will receive $5,000 for each of the next three years. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Thue and seconded by Steffensen to approve the activation of Experience Pay for Tammy Mielitz. Mrs. Mielitz will receive $5,000 for each of the next three years. Motion carried. 5-0

Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Steffensen to approve the seeking of bids for Roof Replacement on the Theater. Motion carried. 5-0

Reports were received by Middle School Principal/AD, Ryan, Scoular, High School Principal, Dan Snaza, David Graf, Elementary Principal, and Special Services Director, Marie Ivers.

Superintendent Downes reported on the following:

1. Legislative Updates

2. Teacher of the Year Updates

3. Accreditation Review

4. CTE Open House

5. ASBSD Student Recognition

Motion by Thue and seconded by Steffensen to enter executive session at 6:23 p.m. for evaluation of the Superintendent and other personnel matter Pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2(1). Motion carried. 5-0 

Chairman Schwandt declared executive session over at 7:44 p.m. and regular session resumed.

Motion by Seffrood and seconded by Christensen to adjourn at 7:45 p.m. Motion carried. 5-0

The next School Board meeting is set for Monday, February 12, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the High School Building.

 /s/ Richard Schwandt, Chairman

/s/ Nancy M. Meyer, 

Business Manager

Published once at an approximate cost of $105.89 and can be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com.