By Watertown Current - November 27, 2025 in FLORENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT #14-1
BOARD OF EDUCATION
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS –
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
Chair Rislov called the November 10, 2025 meeting of the Florence School District #14-1 board of education to order at 7:00 pm. Other board members in attendance were Bach, Kahnke, and Maag. Hlavacek arrived at 7:34 pm. Others present were M. Klitzke, Seth McCay, Brandon Heim of the Watertown Current, Travis Schmidt (MS/HS Princ), M. Reed (Supt), and S. Sumner (Business Manager). The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A quorum was in attendance.
Chair Rislov welcomed the guests. Seth McCay stated that he was in attendance to observe an official meeting for a class assignment.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
No conflicts of interest were announced.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Maag to approve the minutes of the regular October 14th board meeting with one correction: meeting adjourned at 12:02 AM NOT pm and to approve the October 27th special meeting minutes. Motion carried.
Motion by Maag, second by Bach to approve the following unaudited financial reports. Motion carried. REVENUE RECEIVED DURING OCTOBER 2025: Local Sources – General 10,988.08; Capital Outlay 6,029.86; Sped 3,556.11; Bond Redemption 2,700.48; Food Serv 15,588.85; DRED -0-. County Sources – General 1,353.83. State Sources – General 241,949.00; Sped 21,832.00. Federal Sources – Food Serv 13,770.80. CASH BALANCES OCTOBER 2025: General 670,109.53; Cap Out 84,514.20; Sped (10,000.22); Bond Redemption (54,679.63); Food Serv 22,986.76; Dr. Ed. 8,718.56.
No Student Council report was given.
The Sports Co-op committee proposed revisions to the Articles of Cooperation for the Florence-Henry Sports Co-op. Major changes include:
- Home game locations to be determined based on participation in each sport from the previous year
- Only one Athletic Director for the co-op, also based on participation
- Each school will retain a homecoming and a senior night
- The draft of the revised Articles of Cooperation will be posted online for public review
Mr. Reed, Supt/Elem principal, reported that Florence School met accountability in both cash balance and average teacher compensation. The school will once again have an entry in Winter Wonderland at Stokes Thomas City Park. The Grandparents Day event in conjunction with Veteran’s Day today was a hit with great attendance! The school is actively looking for a new company to send out notifications to parents and students via phone, email, and/or texts. There have been a lot of issues with the current vendor. Dare to Share inservice was once again a success. He extended congratulations to the following students as Principals for a Day: Austin Dahl, Greyson Olson, Adalyn Pratt, Blakely Schmig, and Taven Sumner and to the Scholars of the Month: Aubrey Heathcote, Reagan Nelson, Clara Shepherd, James Wensing, Adalyn Pratt, Joslyn Stromseth, Melia Keller, Weslee Wells, Vayda Schmig, and Hunter Maag.
Mr. Schmidt, MS/HS principal & AD, reported that Bert Falak, director of NTHS came to the school and gave a presentation to the Freshmen. The students then had the opportunity to tour up to two classes at NTHS. Sophomores are allowed to attend NTHS. He asked for input on a policy for a few students that have pass/fail grading rather than traditional grading. That type of grading would skew the scaled grading, class rank, valedictorian, and salutatorian. Discussion followed. He also stated that the DOE school report card was released to the public last month. Admin & staff are both working on ways to improve test scores and it is felt that the block scheduling is a major step in the right direction. Middle School will be implementing a Smarter Balanced Test Prep course second semester. MAPS data will be used to identify standards that students struggle with which in turn will be used to build a prep calendar and guide daily classroom instruction. Juniors will be offered an ACT test prep course along with resources from our counselor, Mrs. Florey. He stated that fall sports had come to a conclusion with an awards night scheduled for the 17th, winter sports will begin around Thanksgiving, coaching positions are filled and a spoke of a minor change that is needed in the sports handbook regarding communication between parents and coaches. Lastly, he recognized the 6th grade for winning the Falcon Challenge reward for the 1st Qtr and congratulated the Honor Roll students and the following students as Falcons of the Quarter: Senior-Lucy Kahnke, Junior-Aubrey Johnson, Sophomore-Quinn Keller, Freshman-Jager Johnson, 8th grade-Sabrina Fuller, 7th grade-Myia Dilworth and 6th grade-Kanin Wasland and commended Trallan Sumner and Tucker Keller for being recognized as ECC All-Conference FB and Carson Kelly as ECC All-Conference honorable mention FB. Sierra Keller was also recognized as only the 2nd FH athlete to earn a medal at the State Cross Country meet.
NTHS and NESC meeting items were reviewed.
Glycol will be added to the geothermal system soon along with the groundwork for the outdoor freezer.
Supt. Reed stated that we will wait on the purchase of another used minibus.
Supt. Reed reviewed the enrollment study that he put together on the growth of the district along with the summary that was put together by Co-op Architecture. Both studies will be presented at the public meeting next Monday, November 17th.
As stated earlier in Mr. Schmidt’s report all winter-season coaching positions are filled.
Conversation and thought needs to be put into policy as to how we proceed with the graduation ceremony in regard to on-line and home school students. Discussion followed. Supt. Reed will bring some ideas and policies in the coming months.
Five-year Capital Outlay plan was reviewed.
Motion by Hlavacek second by Kahnke to approve payment of the bills presented. Motion carried. Active Heating – serv 5892.00; Associated School Boards – school law webinar reg 50.00; Black Hills Special Serv Co-op – tuition 2400.00; Carolina Biological Supp. – supp 548.75; CBP – CPC & lease pmt 1995.46; Churchill, Manolis, Freeman, Kludt & Burns LLP – serv 160.00; Cole Papers – FS supp 1066.28; CWD – FS food 9535.90; D. Dilworth – FB chains (2) 40.00; J. Dirkson – travel exp 843.74; Fenworks – participation fees 1100.00; Flemming Electric – FB field lights repair 1943.97; Flinn Scientific – supp 347.15; Florence School Trust & Agency – July & Aug reimb including crim bkgd cks, supp, FS food, membership fees, workshop reg, furniture 9632.09; Florence Water & Sewer – 601.45; George’s Sanitation – 255.00; Green Oviatt Law Firm – serv 450.00; T. Hyatt – milg 672.00; ITC – 168.41; JW Pepper – music 619.88; H. Kerklvliet – official book (2) & libero tracker (2) 68.00; K. Kohlenberg – JH FB ref 20.00; Lindner Music – serv 53.80; L. Maag – FS food & flex day meal 279.01; Mack Landscaping – serv 200.00; McLeod’s Printing – supp 147.99; Menards – supp 121.40; MRG Hauff – supp 1106.30; E. Muller – FB chains (2) 40.00; D. Nelsen – FB announcer (2) 40.00; T. Nelsen – FB spotter (2) 40.00; NESC – assessment 6504.77; CB tuition 6427.73 & ESY tuition 2656.68; ; NSU – digital texts 578.42; Northside Sales & Serv – .5 share of drain tile NW of FB field 862.04; Northwestern Energy – 5797.54; Notable – Kami Works subscription 1043.00; Pomps – balance ’14 bus 98.44; M. Schroeder – JH FB ref 20.00; Z. Schroeder – 5/6 BB ref (5) 100.00; Sheyenne Transport – bus serv 5746.27; Sioux Valley Co-op – diesel, LP & gas 7533.04; T. Sumner – FB chains (2) 40.00; Two Trees Technologies – serv 150.00; Universal Pediatrics – nurse serv 7516.32; A. Vavruska – 5/6 BB ref (5) 100.00; Watertown Radio – game sponsorship 100.00; Capital One Public Funding – CO certificate princ & int pmt 63058.43; Tara Aslesen – sub teach 2188.90; S. Busskohl – XC coach 2353.00; J. Eisenbraun – JH FB ref 20.00; C. Flemming – VB scoreboard (10) 170.00; S. Flisrand – office & kitchen help 432.31; T. Grassel – Asst. FB coach 3399.00; D. Harmel – sub teach 116.40; J. Hintz – activity bus trips 212.18 & VB official book (8) 136.00; J. Kahnke – sub teach 334.07; H. Kerkvliet – sub teach 171.11; Markie Kohlenberg – apprenticeship program hrs 292.50; A. Koll – VB libero tracker (8) 136.00; D. Lund – 5/6 BB coach 2544.44, sub bus & activity bus trips 443.40; L. Maag – activity bus trips 326.83 & VB line judge (10) 200.00; E. Mack – sub bus 97.35; K. Mastel – game custodian 212.00 & custodial sub 360.00; J. McCreary – sub bus 32.45; S. Nelsen – sub teach 479.11; D. Prohl – JH FB coach 1850.00; A. Raeder – sub teach 513.33; M. Reed – bus sub (w/mini) 20.00 & JH FB ref 20.00; S. Rislov – sub teach 432.60; M. Rossow – sub kitchen 86.40; N. Russell – activity bus trips 259.50, sub bus 64.90, 5/6 BB ref (2) 40.00, Head FB coach & bus practice stipend 4664.00; R. Schaefer Goens – cheer coach 729.00 & sub teach 202.24; Emery Schamber – apprenticeship program hrs 221.00; T. Schmidt – activity bus trips 173.00, JH FB ref (2) 40.00, 5/6 BB ref (6) 120.00; B. Schulte – 5/6 BB ref (2) 40.00; C. Schwinger – sub teach 757.05; M. Snoddy – ½ dyslexia training 750.00; S. Sumner – bus sub (w/mini) 40.00 & VB line judge (10) 200.00; T. Vohlken – Head VB coach 4314.00; Amber Walburg – sub teach 108.15; A. Koll – bus & activity bus trip 2051.95; P. Paulson – bus & activity bus trip 1890.68; J. Cariveau – custodial 2758.77; S. Hulford – custodial 2719.20; K. Kitto – custodial 4197.10; Instructional Salaries 135,742.43; Supportive Salaries 41,129.27; Food Serv Salaries 4,169.64; AFLAC – insurance withholdings 2,298.60; Avanti Federal Credit Union – withholding 350.00; AXA Equitable – annuities 40.00; Delta Dental – group dental insurance 3,339.72; IRS – FIT & FICA withholding 42,458.96; NPIP – group medical, vision and HSA accts & fees 39,343.82; SDRS – contributions 23,364.88; SD Supplemental Retirement – contributions 3,700.00; Standard – life ins. 156.83.
Rislov appointed Caitlin Bach as Legislative Action Network Member.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Maag to designate The Watertown Current as the official newspaper of record for the Florence School. Motion carried. This overrides the July 2025 motion.
Motion by Hlavacek, second by Bach to accept the proposal from William Neale & Co. in the amount of $12,500 for the FY’25 audit. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Maag to approve the Co-op Sports Agreement for 2 years starting school year 2026-27 & 2027-28. Motion carried.
Motion by Hlavacek, second by Bach to approve the presented open enrollment applications. Motion carried.
Motion by Maag, second by Hlavacek to enter into executive session at 9:14 pm for SDCL 1-25-2.2 (student matter). Motion carried.
Chair Rislov declared the board out of executive session at 9:35 pm.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Hlavacek to adjourn at 9:35 pm. Motion carried.
Published once on November 27, 2025, at the total approximate cost of $108.42 and maybe viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com
