HURON During Mondays School Board meeting, business manager Kelly Christopherson gave the budget update for the 25-26 school year.
Huron School District superintendent Kraig Steinhoff spoke before Christopherson gave the budget cut report, stating, The administrative team has worked extremely hard to find cuts to this years budget, ensuring that no employees have lost their jobs.
He continued, Its not enjoyable to work through right-sizing our budget, but it is happening through collaboration, teamwork, respectful disagreements, and a solid plan and timeline.
Steinhoff also added that the travel reductions are primarily for staff travel, not student travel.
This list is the final cuts for the 25-26 school year, he said. We are not seeking further cuts for this school year.
Christopherson began his report, What we did as an administrative team was decide how much our goal was.
He stated, Our goal was $592,000 to reduce from this years general fund budget, which is about 3%.
Christopherson continued, Obviously, all of the teachers have contracts and employee benefits that we have to honor, so that narrows down the things that we could do to affect this budget.
The board went through each budget category by category as it is laid out in their approved budget and looked for 3% of what was available in that specific budget to make reductions.
Christopherson did warn, I should also mention for everyone to keep in mind this is not fixing our budget for 26-27, this is working on our budget for 25-26. There will be more things to come for 26-27.
Van Burkum asked, With some of these expenses being shifted to the nutrition department, how tight is that going to make Amandas budget?
Christopherson replied, Right now, coming off of the pandemic and some successful summer feeding programs, the budget is probably in the best shape its ever been in.
Steinhoff stated, I, as a Superintendent, work for you, the Board of Education, and I must accept your directive directives as my direct supervisor.
He added, The administration team, as we said, held multiple meetings to achieve these savings of nearly $600,000, and I ask that you support our work, knowing that every department did their best to make the appropriate cuts to minimize negative impacts to the students.
Board member Ray Cardona thanked the Superintendent, the Administrators, and the Business Office for all their hard work. I did have several people reach out to me, and Id like to make it clear to those people that I did hear you and I did try to dig in and get some answers.
Cardona continued, After several emails later, it just kind of is what it is; its a very dire situation that we need to work our way out of.
Cardona also added, Im not in favor of discontinuing the employee recognition banquet or the music programs, and in my opinion, cutting supplies for existing students is not the same as not filling a vacant position.
Board member Shelly Siemonsma stated, Id like to convey to everyone who has called, texted, and emailed to express their concerns about the cuts, I absolutely understand and hear where you are coming from.
She added, These are very difficult meetings to have. Unfortunately, this is what most schools throughout the state are looking at, and its very disappointing and emotional, and Im sorry for every one of you because I know how hard you work.
She concluded, This is not a reflection on you or anything youve done and certainly not any of these kids, unfortunately, these are he tough times that we have to face in our lives.
Board member Garret Bischoff said, Weve got a rough road ahead of us.
He added, We might have to get creative with funding, with a lot of tough decisions. Weve just got to keep plugging away at it and do what we can to make things work.
Members Van Berkum and Levi Kary both thanked the administrative team for working through this.
Before the meeting adjourned, Steinhoff stated, Id like to thank those of you that are here in the audience, you love our kids, including my own.
He added, We dont have a crystal ball. I wish we did, but I also thank you for doing the work that youre doing and youre not putting in on the kids.
Earlier, the board made a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meetings, the financial report, consideration of the bills, new hires to the district, along with a contract updating the mileage rate to $0.70 per mile and the personal vehicle rate to $0.315 per mile.
Steinhoff congratulated the high school students who qualified for All-State Chorus and Orchestra in Sioux Falls on October 31 and November 1, which include seniors Davis Osier, Jonah Beck and Molly Whitney; juniors Kolby Glanzer, Hsa Eh Wah, Cooper Bischoff, Charlie Bragg, Jeremy Hofer und Ty Kleinsasser; sophomores Morgan Bultje, Claire Davis, Idella Meyer, Snow Wah, Kash Baribeauh; and freshmen Lydia Beck and Colby Casper. Orchestra participants are seniors Karly Knippling and Galilea Garcia on viola, juniors Brooke Hunter on viola, Blue Law Shee on violin, and Tess Vlieger on cello, and sophomore Kaiden Steinhoff on violin.
Cassie Reinhardt, the school nutrition manager, was selected as Classified Employee of the Month for October of 2025.
Cassie stepped into the role of kitchen manager just a few short years ago. In the time that she has been the kitchen manager, she has helped shape the high school cafeteria into a place where students look forward to going. She has fostered a happy and positive environment among all the staff and tailored menu choices based on the students perspectives.
It is an extreme delight to have Cassie as our classified food service employee of the month. Congratulations, said Christopherson.
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