Flandreau School Board met in regular session on Monday, June 9 and looked at the preliminary 2024-25 budget and said farewell to its current business manager.
Two members were absent from the meeting, Tom Stenger and Adam Wiese. In Stenger’s absence, Vice-President Kari Burggraff presided.
Board members acknowledged the work of Business Manager Stacey VanBeek over the past six years. She will become the business manager at Brookings Schools. Her last day is June 30. Josh Cleveland, the district’s current academic advisor, will be the district’s new business manager.
Board members spent a bit of time learning about the 2024-25 school year’s budget, approved the bussing contract and approved an addition to the middle school parking lot.
The preliminary General Fund budget being considered is $6,750,000, about $40,000 more than the previous year.
The preliminary Capital Outlay Budget is about $1,900,000 and the Special Education budget will be around $2,200,000. For food service, a budget of $550,000 is being considered.
All these figures will be finalized in the next week and the 2024-25 budget will be published in the July 3 edition of the Moody County Enterprise. The board will approve its new year budget at the July 8 board meeting.

Cleveland, as the Academic Advisor, explained the Critical Needs Assessment budget for the new year.
The board is able to apply for $100,000 grants each year for each school, Elementary, Middle and High School, due to the number of students in the English Language Learners program. Most of the grant money is used for curriculum. The district should hear by June 21 if the grants are awarded.
If awarded, August 30 will be set as an in-service day.
Community Drive, which runs in front of the middle school, is being widened to help with traffic flow to the new Boys and Girls Club Early Learning Center. This will take away parking spots for middle staff members. The board approved Fuller Asphalt to extend the current parking lot, located directly south of the middle school, 24 feet to the north removing some of the grassy area. This will actually create more parking spots. The cost will be about $95,000 to extend the lot and also put an overlay on top of current lot.
Also approved the 5-year bussing contract with Harlow’s School Bus Service. For general transportation including daily bus routes, the district will pay $303,120. Bussing for special needs will be about $500 per day plus bus attendant’s salary. Field trips and activity transportation will be set at $3.34 per mile with a minimum of $99.85 for shorter trips as well as driver payment for down time.
In other items:
Middle School/High School Librarian Lori Williams received a 21st Century School Library Exemplary Award from the state library system.
There are 45 children in Summer School. Students in kindergarten through grade eight are working on skill development and enrichment activities and high school students are working on credit recovery or adding credits to their transcripts. Last day is June 20.
New hires include Allison Fitts as Speech Language Pathologist Assistant and Bruce Heinemann as the high school evening custodian. The board also accepted the resignation of Jennifer Sundermeyer as Cheer Coach.
A new district website will be coming soon.
An auction of surplus district items will be held on July 20 in the football stadium parking lot. Items include some kitchen ware, old uniforms, backpacks, fitness equipment monitors, keyboards, and various classroom items.
Approved the memorandum of agreement with SDSU to provided student teachers and approved ELO to do the school audit for 2023-24.
Discussion was held on board Gavel training provided by the Associated School Boards of South Dakota with more information at next month’s meeting.