HURON — Huron High School senior Samantha Swanson gave a report on Educators Rising at Monday night’s School Board meeting.

“Educators Rising is a student organization dedicated to preparing future teachers and administrators for the crucial role in the education system,” said Swason.

Educators Rising is a fairly new organization in S.D., starting back in 2015. HHS is now part of the organization. Members of Educators Rising have had the privilege of visiting various colleges from SDSU, Northern State, DSU and DWU to gain valuable insight from seasoned educators. This also provides the students with many different views, challenges and rewards that come with being an educator.

Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Linda Pietz and High School Principal Mike Radke discussed the High School ACT state report cards, stating it was released this October. South Dakota students received a composite score of 21.1, which is above the national average of 19.5 and the highest in the region. Nearly 60 percent of states will have 2023 graduates take the ACT. The ACT composite score reflects sub scores in English, math, reading and science.

Business Manager Kelly Christopherson presented his report to the board giving an update on the construction. The tennis court expansion project was substantially complete as of Nov. 3, with the substantial completion walk through with the general contractor and architects scheduled to take place this Wednesday to develop a punch list, such as the metal panels on the roof shelters, which were delivered in the wrong color so they had to be sent back to Michigan to be painted and returned. Christopherson said  the track repair project is 100 percent complete.

In his facility planning report, Superintendent Kraig Steinhoff said, “We did a full enrollment study by RSP and Associates and from 2005 up to even now our average growth per year has been 50-75 students,” said Steinhoff.

Steinhoff noted that RSP and Associates said the enrollment projection will be flat for the next five years, with birth rates being lower locally and nationally during the Covid Pandemic.

In new business, the board agreed to a change in the agreement with JLG Architects in the amount to $26,400 for the High School Tennis Court project, because it was not completed by the projected date of July 28; and a track project order No. 3 for a $11,250 deduction, as more needed to be done to the track than originally thought and the outside contractors took more time then requested. The board approved a request for three 71 passenger buses for $122,938 each from North Central Bus.

The next School Board meeting will take place Monday, Nov. 27, at 5:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.