Northeast Educational Services Cooperative, Board of Directors Meeting, Monday, April 20, 2026

Northeast Educational Services Cooperative
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, April 20, 2026

The Board of Directors for the Northeast Educational Services Cooperative (NESC) met in regular session on Monday, April 20, 2026 via Zoom and at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD. The meeting was called to order by President Schuurman at 7:01 P.M. and adjourned at 8:24 P.M.

Members Present
In-Person: Alisha Nielsen, Castlewood; Shane Roth, DeSmet; Wade Gubrud, Deuel; Arend Schuurman, Elkton; Tara Abraham, Hamlin; Audrey Rider, Henry; Penny Thyen, Waverly/South Shore

Zoom: Megann Murphy, Arlington; Carrie Schiernbeck, ORR; Diana LeClair, Rosholt; Jayme Trygstad, Sioux Valley; Lisa Amdahl, Summit (arrived at 7:04); Cory Zirbel, Waubay; Tia Felberg, Willow Lake

Absent: Heather Landreth, Britton/Hecla; Lacey Ortberg, Clark; Amy Otten, Deubrook; Skyman Redday, Enemy Swim Day School; Trish Schwartz, Estelline; Jon Kahnke, Florence; Greg Bich, Iroquois; Sterling Eschenbaum, Lake Preston; Nick Fosheim, Webster; Jacque Cameron, Wilmot

NESC Staff Representatives: Sara Lorensberg (Z), Stephanie Hayunga (Z), Brenda Boyd (Z), Teresa Landmark (Z), Todd Obele (Z), Kristy Boettcher (Z), Shelly Skogstad (Z), Julie Nelson (Z).

Member District Superintendents: Brian Sampson, Arlington; Travis Ahrens, Clark; Todd Obele, Henry (Z)

NESC Administration: Anneke Nelson, Director; Tiffany Stormo, Business Manager; Tim Frewing, Assistant Director

Other: Bre Schwandt (Z)

Call to Order
President Schuurman called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Introduction of Guests
Brian Sampson, Travis Ahrens, Todd Obele, Sara Lorensberg, Bre Schwandt, Stephanie Hayunga, Brenda Boyd, Teresa Landmark, Kristy Boettcher, and Shelly Skogstad were introduced as guests.

Agenda Review, Changes, and Approval
Action #26-59
Motion by C. Zirbel, second by A. Nielsen, to remove agenda items 7e and 10a and to add agenda items 10m (FY27 contract for Jennifer Mitchell, Webster Pathways Teacher @ $51,000), 10n (FY27 contract for Talli Raml, SLP @ $64,000), 10o (FY27 contract for Lindsey West, Educational Evaluator @ $58,992), and 10p (FY27 contract for Shana Vander Grift, Educational Evaluator @ $65,645.60). All present voted, motion carried.

Public Comment
A letter from Shelly Skogstad was presented.

Conflict of Interest
No conflicts of interest were presented.

Financial Report
Action #26-60
Motion by S. Roth, second by J. Trygstad, to approve the financial report for the period ending March 31, 2026.  All present voted, motion carried.

General Fund   Special Education      Fund Agency Fund

March 1, 2026      $264,658.80      $919,478.58               $16,959.34
Receipts:
Local Sources            $1,990.35       $362,627.09                $2,255.37
State Sources                                          $1,570.08
Federal Sources                                 $169,622.00
Other
Total Monthly Receipts $1,990.35, $533,819.17                 $2,255.37
Balance Forward $335,925.31       $1,453,297.75              $19,214.71
Manual Journal Entries

Less Salaries               $4,367.89        $446,249.60
Less Disbursements $12,199.68           $45,271.31              $3,475.23
Total Salaries & Disbursements $16,567.57, $491,520.91, $3,475.23

Ending Cash Balance
March 31, 2026     $250,081.58           $961,776.84          $15,739.48

Consent Agenda
Action #26-61
Motion by A. Rider, second by T. Abraham to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda: 7a) Approval of March 16, 2026 Board of Directors minutes; 7b)  Approval of payment of April 2026 budget claims; 7d) Approval of Unit 2 Master Negotiated Agreement; 7e ) Resignation of Grace Einrem; 7f) Resignation of Abby Kramer; 7g) Resignation of Christina Flora; 7h) FY27 Contract Amendment for Danielle Meyer; 7i) FY27 Contract for Amy Yost; 7j) FY27 Contract for Alicia Schoenhard; 7k) FY27 Contract for Bre Schwandt; 7l) FY27 Contract for Hunter Lee; 7m) FY 27 Contract for Jennifer Mitchell; 7n) FY27 Contract for Talli Raml; 7o) FY27 Contract for Lindsey West; 7p) FY27 Contract for Shana Vander Grift. All present voting in favor, motion carried.

March 2026 Accounts Payable
General Fund:  AUTOMAXX CDJR, INC. FLEET MAINT 79.37; AXESS COOPERATIVE FLEET MAINT 171.05; BASS SANITATION INC. JAN – MARCH GARBAGE 12.40; BMO MASTERCARD PURCH SVCS, TRAVEL, PHONE, SPLS 226.45; BROOKINGS AUTO MALL FLEET MAINT 538.09; CENEX FLEETCARD FLEET MAINT 7,060.49; CENTURY BUSINESS PRODUCTS, INC COPIER MAINT CONTRACT 9.11; DUST TEX SERVICE, INC. MARCH RUG USE 6.70; EMC INSURANCE ADD VEH COV 133.12; FRANKMAN MOTOR COMPANY FLEET MAINT 78.20; HAMLIN COUNTY FARMERS COOP FLEET MAINT 387.05; HEALTH EQUITY HSA/FLEX 5.34; HEYNER WELDING INC. FLEET MAINT 62.51; KSB SCHOOL LAW SCHOOL MATTERS 94.68; MILBANK FORD, INC FLEET MAINT 89.36; MINERT & ASSOCIATES, INC DRUG TESTING 918.00; NESC IMPREST 86.10; NESC PAYROLL APRIL 2026 4,404.69; NESC SPECIAL REVENUE PROJECTS FY26 3RD QTR EXP MI 534.45; PALMLUND AUTOMOTIVE FLEET MAINT 274.77; PRAIRIE AG PARTNERS FLEET MAINT 165.90; ROB’S AUTO REPAIR FLEET MAINT 1,143.49; RON’S AUTO REPAIR FLEET MAINT 572.57; SINNER AUTO FLEET MAINT 78.06; STORMO, BEN SNOW REMOVAL 105.60; SYMENS, SHANNON BACKGROUND CHECK 4.00; TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INC TIME CLOCK 2.73; W.W. TIRE SERVICE FLEET MAINT 668.64; WATERTOWN CURRENT LLC MINUTES 6.32; WEBSTER AUTO CARE FLEET MAINT 693.02; WEBSTER TIRE FLEET MAINT 25.00

Fund Total: $18,637.26

Special Education Fund: BASS SANITATION INC. JAN – MARCH GARBAGE 142.60; BMO MASTERCARD PURCH SVCS, TRAVEL, PHONE, SPLS 27,828.11; BOSSE, JENNIFER MI REIMB/ASHA DUES 274.12;  CASTLEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT MARCH PLC USE FEE 1,874.44; CENTURY BUSINESS PRODUCTS, INC COPIER MAINT CONTRACT 104.80; DALY, ANGELA SLP CONTRACTED SERVICES 11,715.00; DUBRO, ANGEL REIMB MI 83.08; DUST TEX SERVICE, INC. MARCH RUG USE 77.10; EMC INSURANCE ADD VEH COV 1,530.88; HAMLIN SCHOOL DISTRICT MARCH PLC USE FEE 1,562.03; HEALTH EQUITY HSA/FLEX 61.46; KSB SCHOOL LAW SCHOOL MATTERS 1,088.82; LAKE PRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT MARCH PLC USE FEE 624.81; PARENT MARCH 2026 MI REIMB 168.84; MITCHELL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE SLP REGIS 412.00; NELSON, ANNEKE CELL REIMB 240.00; NESC PAYROLL APRIL 2026 451,717.88

NESC SPECIAL REVENUE PROJECTS FY26 3RD QTR EXP MI 133,627.02; REINHILLER, LISA ED SPEC TRAVEL 54.00; STORMO, BEN SNOW REMOVAL 1,214.40; SYMENS, SHANNON BACKGROUND CHECK 46.00; TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INC TIME CLOCK 168.02; WAIKEL, ERIN REIMB MI 36.00; WATERTOWN CURRENT LLC MINUTES 72.72; WEBSTER SCHOOL DISTRICT MARCH PLC USE FEE 1,457.90

Fund Total: $636,182.03

Discussion Items

Assistant Director’s Report
Assistant Director Frewing reported on collecting data for the ESY services and arranging coverage, in addition to preparing contracts for 2026-2027.

Director’s Report
Director Nelson gave an update on the building and contracts.

Board of Advisors Report
Director Nelson reviewed the BOA meeting minutes from March 4, 2026 meeting.

NESC Calendar
Director Nelson discussed the draft of an NESC Calendar for the 2026-2027 school year.

Final Pathways Tuition Rates for FY 26
Business Manager Stormo presented final Pathways tuition rates to finish the 2025-2026 school year.

Executive Session
Action #26-62
Pursuant to Negotiations – SDCL 1-25-2(4) Preparing for contract negotiations or negotiating with employees or employee representatives and Pursuant to – Personnel SDCL 1-25-2(1) Discussing the qualifications, competence, performance, character or fitness of any public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee. Motion by W. Gubrud, second by J. Trygstad to enter executive session at 7:38 P.M. All present voting in favor, motion carried.

President Schuurman declared the board out of executive session at 8:17 P.M.

Action Items

Approve NESC Calendar
Action #26-63
Motion by S. Roth, second by W. Gubrud to approve the NESC Calendar for 2026-2027.  All present voting in favor, motion carried.

Final Pathways Tuition Rates for FY26
Action #26-64
Motion by A. Rider, second by A. Nielsen to set final Pathways Tuition rates for 2025-2026.  All present voting in favor, motion carried.

Set Wages for Classified Personnel
Action #26-65
Motion by P. Thyen, second by S. Roth to set wages for classified personnel for 2026-2027.  All present voting in favor, motion carried.

Offer Contracts to Unit 1, Unit 2, Classified Staff, and ESY Personnel
Action #26-66
Motion by A. Nielsen, second by J. Trygstad to offer contracts to Unit 1, Unit 2, classified staff, and ESY personnel as discussed.  All present voting in favor, motion carried.

Director’s Salary
Action #26-67
Motion by S. Roth, second by L. Amdahl to increase Director’s salary by 1.4%. All present voting in favor, motion carried.

Interim Contract for Hunter Lee
Action #26-68
Motion by A. Rider, second by A. Nielsen to offer an interim contract for new business manager Hunter Lee, to start prior to July 1 for training. All present voting in favor, motion carried.

Adjournment
Action #26-69
With there being no further business, motion by A. Nielsen, second by C. Zirbel, to adjourn. All present voted, motion carried.

The next NESC Board of Directors meeting will be held at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD Monday, May 18, 2026 at 7:00 P.M.

____________________________
Arend Schuurman, President

____________________________
Tiffany Stormo, Business Manager

Published once on May 7, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $95.16 and can be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.