School Board hears support for girls soccer

The Lennox School Board met Oct. 13 and heard more about girls soccer.

Student Kamille Schmidt spoke on behalf of the numerous girls and families in attendance during public comment. She and others were present to keep the conversation moving forward and she hoped the data collected by the district shows that people are in support of adding the sport.

Superintendent Adam Shaw reported that the official enrollment count was 1,144.01, which was above the budgeted number of 1,120. When he met with other superintendents earlier this month, many were seeing declining numbers. He said he is in the process of interviewing all 158 staff members in the district. 

Lennox Elementary principal Cody Lutes said they are addressing learning gaps at both elementary schools and they are doing a deep dive into all of their online programs to make sure their curriculums are diving into what they can do.

Business manager Angela Arlt noted that the district’s auto insurance is going up 10 percent and property insurance is going up 31 percent. She said property insurance was up 190 percent from four years ago. Workman’s compensation insurance increased by 75 percent. 

No board members were available to serve as the delegate for the Associated School Boards of South Dakota meeting on Nov. 21 so Shaw was going to check on what they need to do.

The board approved worker’s compensation for substitute teachers Jack Aasheim, Carol Shade and Angela Williams.

They approved creating a custodial account for the new group Educators Rising. They also approved closing the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 custodial accounts and moving the money into the Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 custodial accounts.

The board approved the snow removal proposal from Big Earl for a two-year contract.

They also approved the operating agreement between the city and the library.

The board approved three applications for early graduation for three students who are juniors to graduate a year early.

They surplussed a 2000 Chevrolet K2500 Silverado and snow plow.

The board approved Policy 3022.1, volunteer directory information. Shaw said this policy provides information about volunteers without having to do full background checks.

They approved an RFP for $646.00 from CalTex Electric for some smoke detectors that needed to be added in the high school addition.

They did their annual recognition of the baseball club.

They reviewed the new classified employee work agreements for Cyndi Wudel as high school six-hour salad bar and Jacey Meier as educational assistant Lennox Elementary.

President Scott Sandal will out a form to the board members to rate the superintendent and next month they’ll go through the evaluation. In his first year as superintendent, he has to have an evaluation twice.

Shaw updated the board on the high school addition. Paving is done. Theater seating should be going in this week. He estimated they should be done with the project by early to mid-November.

The board adjourned at 6:41 p.m.