HURON — The Huron School Board moved quickly through a light, but important agenda Monday night in the Instructional Planning Center meeting room at Huron Arena.

Highlighting the meeting was the approval to accept a proposal from Puetz Design & Build for a Construction Manager at Risk services. As explained by school district Business Manager Kelly Christopherson, the Construction Manager at Risk is the chosen method for school construction projects. Puetz’s proposal listed several similar projects on which it has participated.

“Essentially,” Christopherson said, “they are involved from the beginning. We tell them what it is we want and they in turn watch out for our best interests as they relate to the building project.”

Christopherson said that they handle the bidding process, compiling all the data and bringing it to the school board for final approval.

“They handle all of the contracts with contractors,” Christopherson said. “They have the risk. Our contract for the project is with the Construction Manager.”

He said that accepting the proposal is the next step, leading to a contract that will be brought for board approval at a subsequent meeting.

In an action related, the board approved a proposal and contract from JLG Architects of Sioux Falls to develop a floor plan and probable costs for a desired addition to the Huron High School building, including some new construction and some remodeling to existing spaces. Christopherson said that the fee for JLG is 7.5% of the project cost, and that they will provide information to satisfy the grant requirements for CTE equipment.

Yoe Kaw Paw, a para educator at Huron Middle School, was presented the Classified Employee of the Month award by HMS Principal Laura Willemssen and Assistant Principal Lyndi Hudson.

In other action, the board unanimously approved:
• Five new hires, five individuals’ resignations and two new contracts. New contracts are for a choral director at HHS and an Ag teacher and FFA advisor.
• Approved setting Aug. 12 as the surplus school auction.
• Approved two intent to apply for grant requests and two open enrollment requests.

The board also:
• Learned from Superintendent Dr. Kraig Steinhoff that the recent Kindergarten registration saw 156 students register to begin school next fall. Those numbers are up, significantly, from the 99 who registered last year and the 122 new registrants in 2022. Dr. Steinhoff welcomed the new members of the HHS Class of 2037.
• Approved a first reading of a military leave policy, endorsed by the Associated School Boards of South Dakota.
• Heard an update from district curriculum director Linda Pietz regarding the adoption of a new social studies curriculum.

The next regular school board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 25, in the IPC room at Huron Arena.