HURON — Garrett Bischoff was re-elected as president and Shelly Siemonsma was again tabbed as vice-chair of the Huron School Board for the upcoming year, at the board’s first meeting of the fiscal year Monday night. Both candidates were re-elected unanimously to their positions by their fellow board members.

Siemonsma was sworn in by school district Business Manager Kelly Christopherson to open the meeting. Siemonsma edged Ray Cardonna in the April school board election for a second three-year term.

Several possible conflict waiver requests were approved from both school board member Tim Van Berkum as well as several administrators for the upcoming school year.

As part of the board’s consent agenda, many of the ‘first-meeting-of-the-year’ housekeeping duties were approved. Christopherson was designated as the Business Manager, meetings were set for the second and fourth Mondays each month - with the exception of the second meetings in July and December or if a meeting falls on a recognized holiday. Board members are compensated at $70 per meeting, with board president’s and vice president’s compensation set at $75. The Huron Plainsman was set as the official newspaper and meal per-diems were set for both in-state and out-of-state.

Several new hires, including summer interns, were approved and two resignations were also approved. One new teacher contract was approved, while both the Farmers and Merchants branch of First National Bank and the Huron Area Education Federal Credit Union were designated as official school district depositories.

Superintendent Dr. Kraig Steinhoff noted that he is pleased to report the Huron School District will be back to two full time School Resource Officers this fall in his report. Officer Stephanie Vaitohi will have office space at the Huron High School and Officer Forest Athey will have office space at the Huron Middle School. Both officers will also periodically visit the remaining schools in the district. Steinhoff also recommended the board designate the school resource officer and Beadle County Sheriff as truant officers.

The board also approved the hire of seven new staff and the resignations of two staff. Also approved was the adoption of supplemental budgets for general fund, capital outlay fund and special education fund.

Steinhoff was directed by the board to contact the Wolsey-Wessington and Iroquois schools regarding pick-up points for the upcoming school year and the board voted unanimously to cast votes for Ryan Rollinger of Harrisburg and Adam Shaw of Madison in the South Dakota High School Activities Association’s board election.

The next school board meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, in the IPC room located on second floor of Huron Arena. All meetings are open to to the public.