School District receives Grow Rural Education grant

HURON — The American Farmer’s Grow Rural Education grant of $25,000 was awarded to the Huron School District at Monday nights board meeting, which will be used to assist in expanding science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education though the Project Lead the Way program for grades K-5 and support students in gaining many valuable skills.
“Tonight we are honored to celebrate Huron School District’s success in the American Farmer’s Grow Rural Education grant,” Director of curriculum and instruction Linda Pietz said. “Thanks to our farmer nominations and detailed application, the HSD will use this grant to implement project Lead the Way launch, a hands on science and STEM program that focuses on student engagement.”
The grant is sponsored by the Bayer Fund, partnered with local farmers’ nominations for rural school districts. Those who nominated the Huron School District include Michael Stahly, April Marshall, Mark Bushfield, Janelle Bischoff, Garrett Bischoff, Floyd Peterson, Gerald Bischoff, Gena Schoenfelder, Matt Micheel, Scott Slepikas and Tammy Slepikas. Director of CTE Jolene Konechne and Pietz accepted the award on behalf of the district Monday evening.
“This is a huge start to our new initiative,” noted Superintendent Terry Nebelsick.

“Thank you so much for helping enable us to get this grant,” Pietz added.
Nebelsick highlighted during the Superintendent’s report that a meeting between administrative staff was held today to determine what needs to be done to be prepared for growing enrollment and accommodate for the increase in students. The goals review meeting will be held on Monday, where the superintendent, school board members and administrators will meet to analyze what will be done to carry out the goals which were set by the board back in June for the coming school year.
During the business manager’s the board took a moment to remember the CEO of Koch Hazard Architects, Jeff Hazard, who passed away on Friday, Aug. 30.
“We’ve had a long relationship with Koch Hazard Architects and mainly with Jeff Hazard, over 11 years we worked with Mr. Hazard,” noted Business Manager Kelly Christopherson. “He certainly has shaped what our buildings have become.”
“The impact that Jeff has had with listening carefully to the community and working closely with board members on a vision was remarkable,” Nebelsick added.
In new business, the board selected Shelly Siemonsma as the official delegate and Craig Lee as the alternative for the Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) annual delegate assembly in November, to discuss the ASBSD policy and standing positions for legislative resolutions.