April 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting

Background:  The following personnel are presented for the board’s consideration:
New Hire (Support Staff): Catlyn Engel, lunchroom/playground, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $14.65/hr, eff. 4/6/2026; Lourinda Garner, food service, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $15.45/hr, eff. 3/30/2026; Christian Fisher, computer technician, district-wide, $20.00/hr, eff. 3/30/2026.

New Hire (Certificated Staff): Anna Dargatz, special services teacher, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $50,750.00, eff. beginning of the 2026-27 school year; Ann Anderson, teacher, Sturgis Williams Middle School, $68,968.00, eff. beginning of the 2026-27 school year; Kassidy Simons, .5 FTE teacher, Rural, $25,541.00, eff. beginning of the 2026-27 school year; Tabatha Palmer, teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, $50,750.00, eff. beginning of the 2026-27 school year; William Conner, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, $60,961.00, eff. beginning of the 2026-27 school year; Christine Steinmeyer, special services teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, $69,727.00, eff. beginning of the 2026-27 school year; Casie Neiman, speech/language pathologist, Piedmont Valley Elementary, $46,284.00, eff. beginning of the 2026-27 school year; Melissa Thienes, Assistant Principal, Piedmont Valley Elementary/Stagebarn Middle School, $84,945.00, eff. beginning of 2026-27 school year.

Temporary Change of Assignment (Support Staff): Rainee Lisko, pre-school paraprofessional to 1st grade long-term paraprofessional, eff. 3/30/2026 thru 5/21/2026, $23.00/hr, Whitewood Elementary; Marissa Boyd, paraprofessional to pre-school paraprofessional, eff. 3/30/2026 thru 5/21/2026, $17.05/hr, Whitewood Elementary.

Resignation (Certificated): Sadie Cole, special services teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Samantha Drury, speech/language pathologist, district-wide, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Jayden Shoemaker, special services teacher, rural, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Sarah DeCost, teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Kayelyn Whitted, teacher, Whitewood Elementary, eff. 3/30/2026, liquidated damages, $4000.00; Brittan Porterfield, principal/teacher, Whitewood Elementary, eff. 3/26/2026, liquidated damages, $4217.54 ; Ashley Bilbrey, special services teacher, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Ginger Smith, teacher, Sturgis Elementary, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year; Abbie Waitman-Johnson, social worker, district-wide, eff. end of 2025-26 school year.

Retirement (Support Staff): Theresa Hanzlik, paraprofessional, Central Meade County School, eff. end of the 2025-26 school year;

Resignation (Support Staff): Kristine Goldade, paraprofessional, Sturgis Elementary, eff. 4/10/2026.

Background:  The monthly financial reports for the board’s review.  Brett Burditt will answer any questions you might have regarding financials. 

Background:  Extracurricular coaches and volunteer coaches will be updated monthly. Any changes will be highlighted in yellow.

Background:  Open Forum is an opportunity for patrons to share their thoughts and concerns.  The school board will listen, but no discussion takes place and there will not be board action.  Board members may ask clarifying questions. The protocol established for open forum is to provide a time limit of three minutes to share concerns.  If a patron would like to have a two-way discussion, they are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the superintendent. 

Appropriate and respectful public decorum is expected. Any complaints about school employees should refer to school board Policy KL: Complaint Against School Employee.

Background:  The Character Education word of the month for April is "Honesty," which involves being sincere, telling the truth, keeping one’s word, and trustworthiness.

Background:  Food Service Director Rhonda Ramsdell will provide a brief annual update.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt will provide a brief overview of the Preliminary Budget.

Background:  The district is requesting to issue teacher contracts for the 2026-27 school year under the proposed 2025–26 terms of the MEA Negotiated Agreement. 

Background:  The Meade School District has received a 12% increase in its health insurance renewal through ASBSD Protective Trust.  

Mr. Wormstadt and the Business Office met with both the employee insurance committee and the school board insurance committee and are requesting to make no changes to plan offerings for the 2026-27 school year.

Plans to continue offering:

• Plan 3 - 2000/4000 PPO
• Plan 5 - 3750/7500 HSA 
• Plan 7 - 5250/10500 HSA

Background:  The Business Office is requesting the Board approve the participation in the ASBSD Protective Trust Worker’s Compensation pool for the 2026-27 school year.  

Background:  Increase the open enrollment cap by 1.5 per student per section per grade level due to state funding or decreasing enrollment. This would apply for one year from 2026-27. We increased the open enrollment cap last year 1.0 per student per section.

•    Kindergarten: The student to teacher ratio shall not exceed 20 21.5 students in each grade as a result of open enrollment.
•    1st Grade: The student to teacher ratio shall not exceed 22 23.5 students in each grade as a result of open enrollment.
•    2nd Grade: The student to teacher ratio shall not exceed 23 24.5 students in each grade as a result of open enrollment.
•    3rd Grade: The student to teacher ratio shall not exceed 24 25.5 students in each grade as a result of open enrollment.
•    4th Grade: The student to teacher ratio shall not exceed 25 26.5 students in each grade as a result of open enrollment.
•    5th Grade: The student to teacher ratio shall not exceed 25 26.5 students in each grade as a result of open enrollment.
•    Grade six through grade eight: The student to teacher ratio for core classes may not exceed 26 27.5 students in each grade as a result of open enrollment.
•    Grade nine through grade twelve: Enrollment may not exceed attendance center building capacity.

Background:  Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt is requesting Board approval of a contract amendment with Harlow’s Bus Service. Under the proposed amendment, service routes R2, R6, and R11 will be permanently removed from the existing contract and will no longer be serviced by Harlow’s for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year starting March 9, 2026.

The compensation paid to Harlow's shall be adjusted downward by reducing the mileage of routes R2 effective 3/9/2026, R6 effective 3/9/2026, and R11 effective 3/10/2026 from the rate schedule for the remaining days of the 2025-26 school year.

Background:  Under proposed Amendment No. 2, service routes R2, R6, and R11 have been added to the existing contract and serviced by Dakota Bus for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year starting March 9, 2026, through June 30, 2026, at the rate of $500.00 per bus per day.

The addendum is temporary in nature and is intended solely to provide uninterrupted transportation services in advance of the Master contract term beginning July 1, 2026.

Background:  Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt recommends the Board approve the $9,840.00 license agreement for Transfinder, the student transportation management software, to ensure the district maintains access to the system.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt recommends the Board amend the Capital Outlay Budget for the following items:

• Woodle Field Sound System Upgrade in the amount of $14,500.00 to replace the sound system at Woodle Field. The funds will come from the BH Orthopedics Sponsorship Agreement.
• Transfinder Software License in the amount of $9,840.00 for student transportation services.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt recommends the Board approve the agreement with the City of Sturgis to replace the previous Woodle Field Parking Lot MOU, which is no longer valid since the district has purchased the football field.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt recommends the Board approve the proposed Haying and Farming Lease Agreement with Grubl Alkali Ranch for SBHS East Campus.

This agreement covers the 2026–27 and 2027–28 seasons. It is anticipated that it will take 2–3 years to prepare the ground before reintroducing a new grass/alfalfa stand.

Background:  The Business Office and Buildings & Grounds Department are requesting the Board to approve the agreement with MB Services in the amount of $13,107.60 for the application of fertilizer and weed killer for all Meade School District facilities.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt is recommending the Board approve the custodial bid with Visible Difference and issue a contract for custodial services at Stagebarn Middle School for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years in the amount of $183,216.00.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt, recommends the Board approve the custodial bid with Loose Endz and issue a contract for custodial services at Piedmont Valley Elementary for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years in the amount of $168,000.00.

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt, is recommending the Board approve the custodial bid from 605 Ultimate Cleaners and issue a contract for custodial services at Sturgis Elementary for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years in the amount of $145,000.00.

Background:  Board President, Justin Jutting is running for a seat on the ASBSD Board of Directors - western region.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt is recommending the Board declare the following items as surplus and to be liquidated at the discretion of the Business Manager. In accordance with district requirements, the Board will need to appoint three (3) residents of the district to appraise the Woodle Field material.

• Atall Elementary School Building
• Woodle Field Material — estimated volume of 3,500 cubic yards of material to be excavated

The Atall Elementary School Building will need to be sold at auction or sealed bid.

Background:  ASBSD recently updated Policy JFA. The Policy Committee recommends adopting the amended policy to maintain alignment with ASBSD. This is the Second Reading of School Board Policy JFA: Student Due Process.

Background:  ASBSD has recently updated Policy GCBDF. While this policy is not currently in place within our district, the Policy Committee recommends the Board adopt the policy for implementation. 

Background:  The Policy Committee recommends amending Policy JGD to align with ASBSD standards. As part of this revision, JGE will be removed from the title, allowing JGD to stand as its own separate policy. Additionally, Exhibits JGD-E(1), JGD-E(2), JGD-E(3), JGD-E(4) and Regulation JGD-R(1) are recommended for adoption to support Policy JGD.

This is the First Reading of Policy JGD: Student Suspension and Expulsion.

Background:  The Policy Committee recommends amending Policy JFCH to align with ASBSD standards. As part of this revision, JFCG and JFC will be removed from the title, allowing JFCH to stand as its own separate policy.

This is the First Reading of School Board Policy JFCH: Alcohol and Other Drug Use by Students.

JFC: Student Conduct was adopted to stand as its own policy in November 2025.

Background:  Due to the state discontinuing the NCRC assessment used to report college and career readiness, schools are adjusting graduation requirements accordingly. SBHS Principal Pete Wilson and the Policy Committee, recommend the following revisions to this policy.

This is the first reading of School Board Policy IKF/IKFA.

Background:  A School District Election will be held on June 2, 2026, in all the voting precincts in School District No. 46-1, Sturgis, South Dakota and Meade School District No 46-1, Lawrence, South Dakota. The election polls will be open from seven a.m. to seven p.m. mountain standard time on the day of the election.

Four candidates have filed timely nominating petitions for the election. The business office drew the order of candidates on the ballot. The order will be as follows:

• Derek Allen (4-year term),
• Tammara P. Hannan (4-year term),
• Brian Voight (4-year term) — incumbent,
• Megan Snyder (2-year term) — incumbent (unopposed - no election).

Background:  Voter registration for the Meade School District 46-1 school board Election will be held on 2nd day of June 2026 and will close on May 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Background:  All requests for Meade School District bus route changes for the 2026-27 school year were to be submitted by Wednesday, April 1. The requests are being reviewed by the transportation committee and Dakota Bus for their recommendations. Action on the requests will be taken by the Board at the August board meeting. 

Background:  Meade County Sheriff’s Department will be providing an SRO for Piedmont Valley Elementary and Stagebarn Middle School for the 2026-27 school year. This is an increase of $5,000.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt has provided a draft Master Facility Plan for FY2027-29 for the board to review.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt will review the current financial status of the Food Service Department and discuss the recommendation to establish an ongoing transfer from the General Fund to support it. This item will return in May for formal Board action.

Background:  Board reports are enclosed in the Board packet.

Background:  Board President Justin Jutting will go over the stoplight report.

Background:  Anyone interested in learning more about the program is invited to attend an informational session on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the School Board Room at the Williams Administrative Building. This session will provide an opportunity to ask questions and connect with the dedicated staff who support the program.

Background:  The Staff Retirement & Recognition Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, May 21 at 8:00 am at Sturgis Brown High School — West Gym. 

A breakfast buffet will be served starting around 7:00 am. This free event is open to the public.

Background:  April 15: Homeschool Connections Program Orientation @ 6:00 pm
April 20: Finance Committee Meeting @ 4:30 pm
April 27: B&G Committee Meeting @ 3:30 pm
April 27: Policy Committee Meeting @ 5:00 pm
April 28: SD DOE Road Trip Event
May 6: Staff Professional Development (2 hour late start for students)
May 11: School Board Meeting