HURON During the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Chairman Tim Van Burken introduced the two new student board members for this year, Charlie Bragg and Gracie Warren. Welcome, both of you, to the Huron Board of Education meetings. We look forward to getting to know both of you, said Van Burken.
Van Berkum announced days to remember, starting with the high school parent/teacher virtual conferences, which were on September 22. Coronation following the varsity volleyball game was Tuesday, September 23, the Homecoming Parade was September 26, along with early release, and Washington 4-5 Center parent/teacher conferences are September 29-30 from 3:30 to 6:45 p.m. Jolene Konechne gave the good news report for the strategic plan initiative #1 over student achievement.
There was one disclosure reflecting an interest in a contract submitted by Levi Kary, an employee at the Huron Regional Medical Center. HRMC has contracts with the Huron School District for sports medicine and physical therapy, and advertising agreements at the Huron Arena and Tiger Stadium.
The Board approved seven new hires to the District, Linda Halter, Tammy Barnes, and Alledra Diazas, for substitute teachers and paraeducators, Janet Olson and Jill Riemer for food service substitutes, Sher Nay Khin for assistant cook at the middle school, and Alexandra Engel for a special education paraeducator at Washington. Five resignations were approved, including Tammy Barnes, Asia Bindert, Mason Wheeler, Estar Ner, and Jeannie Hoyt. Elizabeth Willemssens revised contract as a behavior interventionist at Madison was also approved.
Advertising agreements were approved for Henny Penny Pet Corner for the years 2025-2030 and Montgomery Real Estate for 2025-2028 at the Huron Arena.
Superintendent Kraig Stienhoff congratulated the homecoming court, which includes Yoselin Yanes, Molly Whitney, Klo Paw, Chloe Carr, Ellie Puterbaugh, Jonah Beck, Riley Winegar, Mason Jurgens, Blake Ellwein, and Nolan Stahly.
Stienhoff then extended thanks to the district principals on National Principals Month in October, and HSD custodians for Custodian Appreciation Day on October 2. He also thanked Shelly Siemonsma for donating markers and colored pencils to Madison 2-3 Center, Bonnie Bartholow for the donation of clothing to the high school, and to Gary Zell, Marty and Jodi Anfinson, and the West Whitlock Fishing Village for the donation of pencils for all of the students and the outdoor reading library/bench at the Washington 4-5 Center. Stienhoff told the Board that Mrs. Konechne received feedback from the South Dakota Department of Education on Friday, September 19, regarding required revisions in the budget and project design category for the Science of Reading grant.
The Associated School Boards of South Dakota is hosting the Learning with Larson sessions to talk about ASBSDs resolutions and standing positions, the 2026 legislative session, and how to work together to advocate for public education.
The closest location for us is Mitchell on October 15, said Stienhoff, Well send the invitation and information to you this week.
The full administrative team will receive training from Bret Garland, with the South Dakota School Safety Program. He will be training on the I Love You Guys crisis response and post-crisis reunification process. This work is used in more than 50,000 schools, districts, departments, agencies, organizations, and communities around the world. The training will be in town in October and will include the Standard Response Protocol and the Standard Reunification Method.
Selection for the ASBSD Delegate assembly will be held on Friday, November 21, in Pierre. Board member Van Berkum and Shelly Siemonsma volunteered to attend. Gary Bischoff agreed to volunteer as an alternate.
A brief executive session commenced at 5:45 p.m. Following the executive session, the board toured the new construction that has been done. There was no action taken.
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