School board hears annual levy trend: Sets high school open house for Oct. 27

The Tea Area School Board met Oct. 13 and heard about the annual levy trend.

Superintendent Tonia Warzecha presented a levy trend report. The board reviews it every year at this time. She said the district’s levy has gone down. The bond redemption levy has gone down 24 cents since last year. They are strategic in the bond redemption to leave room to build in the future.

Last year the district’s bond redemption levy was $2.66; this year it’s $2.42. Out capital outlay fund levy was $2.52; this year it’s $2.49. Since 2016, the total owner occupied levy has decreased $3.714.

Operations manager Wayne Larsen reported on the high school expansion. Right now they are working through the punch list. 

This past month they have completed the arts trophy case done, lighting has been installed in the upstairs mechanical room, sound barriers between vocal, band and block box theatre have been installed and the fifth science lab is complete. They still need to install a white curtain on the back of the stage, some controls need to be installed for HVAC and acoustical shell lighting.

They hope to have their final inspection on the bus barn next week. The Frontier bus loop is complete. The exterior lighting has been installed on the bus loop.

The board set the date for the high school addition open house for Oct. 27 from 4:45-6:15 p.m.

Larsen said the middle school land purchase project has the plat approved by the city of Sioux Falls. The four corners of that property have been staked. Soil boring work will be happening this month. 

The board received updates on numbers for Sprouts and TASK student enrollment.

They approved the resignations of Cyndi Wudel for foodservice, Trevon LaRoche for custodial and Jaden Yount for custodial. They approved the new hires of Nick Andrews as custodian, Janice Boyce for foodservice and Garett Johnson as 10th grade boys basketball coach.

They had one transfer of Linda Hanson from middle school foodservice to Legacy custodian.

The board appointed Tara Johanneson to serve as the ASBSD delegate at the meeting on Nov. 21.

Warzecha noted that all areas of the district have a purpose statement. The board was encouraged the adopt a board purpose statement. The board tabled this item until the November meeting.

Warzecha reported that they have early graduation requests at semester time for 18 students. The board approved the requests. These students are still eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony in the spring.