A recently approved agreement will require members of the junior class at Flandreau to work at the concessions stand for at least one game this year or pay $35 for a ticket to prom.

Superintendent Rick Weber and junior class advisor Amanda Ahrens presented this agreement to the school board at their September meeting after struggling to get junior students to come work concessions and speaking with other schools about their procedures.

The junior class is responsible for working the concession stands at football games and girls basketball games during the school year.

Funds made during this time go towards the junior class fund for prom and anything left over will remain in their class fund as seniors.

Ahrens said over the years she thinks the responsibility of the junior class to work these games and raise money for prom has gotten lost.

“As a junior, you have the opportunity to work one event to earn a ticket [to prom],” Ahrens said. “If you work two events, you earn a second ticket for your date. Basically, you’re helping work concessions to earn money, and if not, you’re paying for your ticket.”

She said there are a few students who would be affected, who might be football cheerleaders or statisticians and also play girls basketball.

Those students are encouraged to communicate with Ahrens if there is a conflict and they will work something out, whether that’s helping with another fundraiser or helping the week of prom.

This is the same for students who might work at other jobs on game nights or who live out of town and can’t come.

“If they can’t, I encourage them to talk to me and we can definitely work something out,” Ahrens said. “As a last resort, I guess I’d just ask them to pay $35.”

Board member Kelly Kontz said for those who can’t get into town to work at a game or for a couple going to prom, $70 is really expensive.

Ahrens said she had to make it a price that would hurt a little bit to encourage the kids to work.

“The money they pay for tickets actually goes into their class fund and follows them as seniors, so any funds they have left over would go for cap and gown, yearbooks,” Ahren said. “If we do make any money off tickets, it will go into their class fund. It would benefit them either way.”

Five board members approved, with Kontz voting against.  

The Flandreau school board also:

had no motion to approve to be part of a National Institute of Health grant through Sanford.

held the second reading of the service animal policy.

held the first reading of the Criminal Background Check policy.

acknowledged public school exemptions.

approved an open enrollment.

acknowledged the Lunchtime Solutions workers and Harlow’s bus drivers.

approved the resignation of Scott Ross as assistant wrestling coach.

approved hiring Danielle Geigle on an hourly basis to help with speech therapy for the school’s kids aged birth to 3.

approved waiving the rental fees for FYSA and youth wrestling for tournaments to be held in the school.

approved our SPED Comprehensive Plan.