August 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting

Background:  Business Manager, Brett Burditt will administer the oath of office to board member Megan Snyder for a two-year term. 

Background:  The following personnel are presented for the board’s consideration eff. beginning of the 2026-27 school year:

New Hire (Certified Staff): Virginia Herweh, teacher, Whitewood Elementary, $56,191.00; Coleen Keffeler, Perkins Coordinator, Sturgis Brown High School, $6,000.00 stipend; Owen Cass, teacher, Stagebarn Middle School, $46,201.00

New Hire (Support Staff): Stacy Pojorlie, school health assistant, PVE/SMS, $19.95; Stacy Engelmann, special education paraprofessional, SMS, $18.75; Sylvia Marolt, special education paraprofessional, PVE, $18.95; Angela Harms; SES, lunchroom/playground, $15.85; Zara Wallace, special education paraprofessional, SES, $17.75; Emma Ohm, special education paraprofessional, SES, $18.85; Rachel Palmer, food service worker, PVE/SMS, $15.10; Kaylee Day, special education paraprofessional, PVE, $17.75; Marnie Masten, special education paraprofessional, PVE, $20.65. Amber Hayes, PVE, lunchroom monitor, $14.75; Aliza Cheesman, paraprofessional, PVE, $14.75.

Change in Hourly Rate (Support Staff): Austin Murtha, food service head cook to site manager, (Tier 2), $18.01/hr to $18.76/hr; Lourinda Garner, food service worker to head cook, $15.70/hr to $15.85/hr; Heather Bestgen, special education paraprofessional, $18.30 to $18.80 for sensory training certificate; Deb Wilburn, special education paraprofessional, $20.41 to $20.91 for sensory training certificate; Mary Stiefvater, special education paraprofessional, $17.08 to $17.58 for sensory training certificate; Jennifer Dennis, special education paraprofessional, $18.29 to $19.29 for sensory training and behavior training certificates; Sara Audiss, special education paraprofessional, $18.29 to $19.29 for sensory training and behavior training certificates; Melinda Smiley, special education paraprofessional, $18.37 to $18.87 for sensory training certificate; Maggie Walker, special education paraprofessional, $18.86 to $19.36 for sensory training certificate; Nicole Huber, special education paraprofessional, $18.10 to $19.10 for sensory training and behavior training certificates; Darla Parson, special education paraprofessional, $20.14 to $20.64 for sensory training certificate; Michelle Norato, special education paraprofessional, $20.90 to $21.40 for sensory training certificate; Paige Gorcezweski, special education paraprofessional, $17.90 to $18.40 for sensory training certificate; Cerrina Lingwall, special education paraprofessional, $18.29 to $18.79 for sensory training certificate; Jackie Thies, special education paraprofessional, $18.04 to $19.04 for sensory training and behavior training certificates; Theresa Jaramillo, special education paraprofessional, $18.50 to $19.00 for behavior training certificate; Lexi Long, special education paraprofessional, $18.29 to $18.79 for behavior training certificate; Myla Budmayr, special education paraprofessional, $20.41 to $20.91 for behavior training certificate.

Change of Assignment (Support Staff): Megan Burgner, administrative assistant to special education paraprofessional, Stagebarn Middle School, $18.18 to $20.03; Mary Hunt-O'Brien, playground supervisor to ISS coordinator; Stagebarn Middle School, $15.05 to $16.05.

Resignation (Support Staff): Colin Looker, maintenance, Buildings & Grounds, eff. 8/7/2026; Ryan Smeenk, maintenance, Buildings & Grounds, eff. 8/1/2026. Tanya Kremer, custodian, Sturgis Brown High School, eff. 8/7/2026; Nicole Ruel, health assistant, PVE/SMS, eff. 7/22/2026; Barb Termes, lunchroom/recess, Whitewood Elementary, eff. 6/16/2026.

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:  ASBSD coordinates an Emergency School Bus Mutual Assistance Pact between school districts on the occasion a bus traveling outside of the district fails.

Background:  The recommended changes to the 2026-27 MEA MOU have been provided to the Board for approval.

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 August is "Self-Discipline" which includes having patience, being disciplined, and being accountable for your choices.

Background:  The transportation committee and Dakota Bus met on Monday, July 27, 2026, on the following requests received. The following recommendations have been communicated from Dakota Bus:

Date Received	Request	Reason	Recommendation
3/5/2026	Add bus stop at Moose Drive	Refer to Prairie Hills Transit	Deny
3/9/2026	Add bus stop at Louis Drive		Approve
3/15/2026	Add bus stop at Twin Parks.		Approve
4/17/2026	Request to closer route.	New address	Approve

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt is recommending the Board approve Change Order #2 with Mammoth Construction in the amount of $34,432.36 reduction and approve Schulze Landscaping quote.

The quote is to correct an area of drainage landscaping with residential turf outside the track by the bleachers, eliminating runoff from the hill and the need for water/maintenance. This will be paid with the project contingency fund as a project change.  The project will still be under budget with this change.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt recommends the Board approve a $6,500.00 contingency transfer within the FY27 Capital Outlay Budget for the purchase of seven milk coolers for the Food Service Department.
The seven milk coolers will be allocated as follows:
SMS: 2
PVE: 1
SWMS: 3
WW: 1
Approval of the transfer will reduce the FY27 Capital Outlay Contingency from $25,000.00 to $18,500.00.

Background:  During the 2026 legislative session, this policy was amended to include the addition of coaches as mandatory reporters. 

Background:  During the 2026 legislative session, ASBSD revised this policy to recognize that the date of the school election needs to be set by the Board in December rather than January.

Background:  During the 2026 legislative session, this policy was amended to reflect updated election-related information required to be included in school board meeting minutes.

Background:  During the 2026 legislative session, ASBSD drafted this new policy in response to recent legislative changes. The policy authorizes the School Board, or its designee, to assign a student who is displaying aggressive behavior to an alternate educational setting.

This is the First Reading.

Background:  The school board committee assignments have been updated to reflect the current committee members for the 2026-27 school year.

Background:  ASBSD delegate and alternative will need to be appointed.

Background:  Teacher in-service is scheduled for Monday, August 24 and Tuesday, August 25.

The all staff in-service is scheduled for Monday, August 24 with breakfast and refreshments being served. 

Background:  Annual review of the open meeting law Conducting the Public's Business in Public.
 

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt has provided the FY27-28 Budget Timeline for the Board to review.

Background:  Business Manager Brett Burditt has provided the FY26 Fund Summary, Cash Balance Report and Teacher Compensation Report for the Board to review.

Background:  The district engaged with Faith about a possible reorganization of district boundaries on the east side of Meade 46-1.  This would have entailed the transfer of $297,000,000 in valuation surrounding the Opal, Hereford, Elm Springs and Central Meade County Schools.  The maps enclosed are DRAFTS of what the district boundaries could look like prepared by Meade County staff.   

The Faith School Board at their July meeting voted not to pursue this.  Mr. Trask approached the Wall School Board about the same idea as presented to Faith School Board.  I have spoken with both the Wall and New Underwood superintendents about this.

The Meade 46-1 School Board will need to decide if they want to discuss this option with Wall or New Underwood School Boards in the future.

Background:  Board reports are enclosed in the Board packet.

Background: 
Federal Scholarship Tax Credit

• To gain access to support students, we will need to hire an entity as our Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) or create one. 
• Program starts January 2027.
• $1700 tax credit for anyone who owes federal income taxes. 
• If you owe $1700 or more you can give up to $1700 to a school district with a SGO and reduce your federal taxes by $1700 (dollar for dollar).
  • Can be set up as payroll deduction.
• More information to come as IRS has not set the rules for us to follow.  Targeted services is what will be allowed.

Staffing Shortages

• 2 Special Education Teachers
• 1 Special Education Paraprofessional
• 1 Playground Supervisor
• 1 Maintenance
• 1 Night Custodian

Background:  August 24-25: Teacher In-Service
August 24: All Staff In-Service @ SBHS
August 24: B&G Committee Meeting
August 24: Policy Committee Meeting
August 25 & 26: Open House Schedules
August 27: First Day of School
September 4 & 7: No School - Labor Day