School Board addresses annual report card, approves staff changes

The Tea Area School Board met Nov. 13 with board vice president Conrad Pick presiding over the meeting in the absence of president Kristen Daggett. 

Curriculum director Elizabeth Herrboldt presented the district’s annual report card.

The district was 56 percent proficient in math, which was fourth among schools in the DAK12 Conference, plus Sioux Falls, Brandon Valley and Harrisburg. The district was sixth among area schools at 57 percent proficient in English Language Arts. The state average for math was 43 percent and ELA was 50 percent.

In elementary, Legacy was 69 percent proficient in math, Venture was 67 percent and Frontier was 48 percent. In ELA Legacy was 73 percent (second among area schools), Venture was 62 percent and Frontier was 49 percent.

In the middle school, the district was 50 percent proficient in math and 47 percent proficient in ELA. Both seventh and eighth grade had decreases in reading scores. She noted that is an area they need to target and they have begun to work on improving reading.

The board approved the resignations of Eric Thien as volleyball coach, Heather Herman as family and consumer science teacher, Heidi Nowak as nurse and Katie Krieger as early childhood special education.

They approved the new hires of Jordan Rohrbach as assistant prom director, Monica Ybarra as Frontier foodservice, Brooke Palleschi as FCCLA CTSO, Nicole Hauck as FCCLA CTSO, Madison Stahl as District Office administrative assistant and Trevon LaRoche for custodial.

Operations manager Wayne Larsen reported on the high school expansion project. The footings and foundation walls for the gym have been poured. He expects the precast walls to come by the end of December, which is a month sooner that first thought. The south chiller pad footings are poured. Plumbers are laying lines to connect the north and south mechanical rooms. The dirt contractor has moved to the science wing.

The board held the first reading of Policy KJA, the district’s policy on the Titan logo. The policy would require prior approval for all community members and vendors to use the log.

They also held a first reading of Policy ACAB, the district’s policy on bullying. The changes include adding the use of the anonymous reporting platform, Safe2Say.

The board approved the additions to the Activity Handbook. The South Dakota High School Activities Association recently approved a policy that officials can eject a spectator from an event. SDHSAA has asked district’s to also have a policy. 

The district’s policy any spectator ejected from a contest is not allowed to attend any contests for the remainder of the calendar day at any level and the next contest at any level of competition. In order to return to games or activities, the spectator must meet with local administration and agree to a prescribed plan, as well as completing the NFHS Sportsmanship Course and show proof of completion.

If a spectator is ejected for a second time in one school year, they will be suspended from attending any activities for one calendar year.

The board approved surplussing three vehicles and putting them on the online auction site Purple Wave Auction.

The calendar committee will meet Dec. 7 at 3:45 p.m. with the student board representatives and Chad Meyer and Jason Bennett appointed to the committee.

The virtual snow day plan that the district utilized last year will remain the same for this school year.

Lowery presented information on the Leaving a Legacy donor wall in the Performing Arts Center. They are still seeking another member to be on that committee.

The board went into executive session at 5:53 p.m.

They came out of executive session at 6:05 p.m. and approved the annual emergency plans.

The board adjourned at 6:07 p.m.