HURON The Huron School District received notification that more than $763,000 in Title federal funds would be frozen effective July 1, Superintendent Kraig Steinhoff told Huron School Board members Monday evening.
Steinhoff said he received notification of the frozen funds on June 30.
I contacted Senators Rounds and Thune, as well as Representative Johnson, and expressed my frustration with the timing and the decision to freeze the funds, he said. As I said to them, we cannot make these cuts on 24-hour notice.
As a school district, we issue contracts for the upcoming year in the spring, and we are bound by South Dakota law to uphold those contracts, whether the Title funding is frozen or not, Steinhoff said. This freeze feels like an attack on public education and is very disappointing.
Steinhoff said the delay is causing disruptions, fear, and affecting the school districts ability to plan for the upcoming year.
I asked them for their help and am hopeful that they will make the decision based on what is best for students in Huron, across South Dakota, and the United States, he said. The students are the future. We must never underestimate our moral imperative to do what is best for kids. They will be tomorrows military, tomorrows workforce, and tomorrows leaders. We will eventually depend on them, and we will all rely on their success. Therefore, we must advocate for their futures as if our very lives depended on it.
Business manager Kelly Christopherson reported that the district is facing a shortfall of $950,000 in the general fund, which they expected and anticipated.
Looking ahead, we will start on the 2026-27 budget shortly, Christopherson said. Things are looking difficult; well have rising utility and insurance and declining enrollment.
Utility costs grew by more than the district expected, and theyre paying almost $1 million on utilities now, he added.
Construction work continues on the high school and roofing projects. The middle school boilers arrived and are set in place. The high school kitchen remodeling project will be completed next summer.
High school wrestlers Carter Nelson, Teagan Lien and Lucas Chaparro, who represented South Dakota in AAU Scholastic Wrestling Duals in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., were congratulated.
Congratulations were also extended to boys tennis coach Tim Hedblom on his nomination for spring coach of the year by the S.D. High School Coaches Association, and to Rachel Kary, girls tennis coach, on her nomination for Fall Coach of the Year by the S.D. High School Coaches Association.
Steinhoff gave his annual report on bullying in the district. They encountered 51 alleged incidents in the 2024-25 school term, with one of those being founded. Last school year, there were 34 allegations, with 19 of those founded, and in the 2022-23 school term, there were 33 allegations of bullying, with 10 of those founded.
The district commits to maintaining a constructive, safe and bully-free school climate that is conducive to all students educational opportunities and which fosters an environment in which all students and staff are treated with respect and dignity.
Steinhoff said he and several staff members met with superintendents from Wolsey-Wessibgton, Sanborn Central and Hitchcock-Tulare to review the collaborative CTE class schedule for this year and to answer questions regarding the first year of shared programming among the four districts.
We will rotate and share the mobile meat cutting lab, the mobile small engines lab and the students will attend CTE classes in Huron from the respective schools, Steinhoff said. We are going to meet one more time in August to ensure everyone is ready for the start of the year.
Grab & Go Meals are available for pick up every Tuesday and Friday at Huron Middle School through Aug. 1. Helping assemble the meals are Deanne Ness and student Moo Bway Soe.
The district named the Huron Plainsman as its official newspaper and Rodney Freeman as the district attorney.
New board members Levi Kary and Garret Bischoff were sworn in.
The board approved seven new hires.
School is scheduled to begin for grades one through 12 on Aug. 20, with kindergarten student classes beginning Aug. 25.
Other dates to remember:
Elementary open houses will be held Aug. 15 at Washington, Madison and Buchanan schools from 1 to 4 p.m.
Middle school open house will be Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
High school open house will be Aug. 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
City-wide early childhood screening, Aug. 20-22, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
McKinley School open house, Aug. 21, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
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