School board discusses TASK survey

The Tea Area School Board met May 18 and reviewed results from the TASK survey from district staff.

Superintendent Tonia Warzecha said they had 63 respondents to the survey that was sent to staff on being able to get their children into TASK. She said 29 percent of respondents do not use TASK but would like to. Thirty-eight respondents do not know the process to get off the waitlist.

Communication was identified as a big piece that needs improvement. Respondents said moving to the top of the waitlist was of greater importance than a tuition decrease for staff members.

The board approved staff’s children will receive priority placement on the waitlist and a 25 percent tuition reduction for staff. 

The board approved the resignations of Natasha Hinman as middle school counselor, Ruby Rezac for foodservice, Landon DeRuyter for TASK, Andrew McCormick as eighth grade assistant girls basketball, Mary Beth Sutton as high school musical drama and the retirement of Twyla Lippert as paraprofessional. 

They approved the new hires for the summer bridge program that is Title funded for Katie Weihe as paraprofessional, Brittney Reiter as teacher, Mason Meyer as teacher, Breanna Klocke as teacher, Amber Hermanson as teacher, Emily Henze as teacher, Mya Haupt as paraprofessional, Tracy Schmidt as teacher, John Westhoff as teacher, Cheryl Norris as paraprofessional and Anna Dravland as paraprofessional.

The board also approved the new hires of Miriam Clarambeau as counselor, Rhianna Hagerbaumer as elementary resource, Janelle Johnson as CSI coach - special education, Caitline Oeitjenbruns as middle school ag, Robert Smith as building supervisor, Taryn Helgeson as assistant prom, Courtney Tinklenberg as assistant eighth grade girls track and 10th grade girls basketball, Andrew McCormick as head seventh grade girls basketball, Matt Wegener as head seventh grade football and seventh grade boys basketball, Shawn Kennedy as head eighth grade football and Jaden Knoll for marching band drums.

Lanesha Underberg transferred to fourth grade at Venture Elementary.

Warzecha provided information on the three SDHSAA amendments. Amendment 1 is in regard to eligibility years; Amendment 2 is if a school closes down they have a free transfer to another school but need to finish the school year at the first school; and Amendment 3 is if they graduate at the first semester they can compete until that second semester begins. The board approved yes votes on all three amendments.

The board approved the resolution for membership in the South Dakota High School Activities Association for 2026-27. They moved to cast their ballot for the SDHSAA Division IV Representative for Jeff Kosters, Frederick Area School District.

The board approved the food vendor bids for Pan O Gold for bread, Prairie Farms for dairy and Performance Foodservice as the prime food vendor.

Warzecha asked the board to table the possibility of putting solar panels on Venture Elementary until the June meeting as they wait for more information to come in.

The board approved the administrative waiver for health as eighth-graders to count as high school credit.

Warzecha shared the results of the ACT test that is now being used as the assessment for all 11th grade students. The district’s 173 students did a great job, she said, with an average composite score of 20.4. Other results showed 98 students scored a 20 or higher in math, 120 scored 20 or higher in science, 84 scored a 20 or higher in English and 100 scored a 20 or higher in reading.