By Watertown Current - March 5, 2026 in Northeast Educational Services Cooperative
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, February 16, 2026
The Board of Directors for the Northeast Educational Services Cooperative (NESC) met in regular session on Monday, February 16, 2026 via Zoom and at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD. The meeting was called to order by President Schuurman at 7:00 P.M. and adjourned at 8:21 P.M.
Members Present
In-Person: Alisha Nielsen, Castlewood; Arend Schuurman, Elkton; Chris Verhoek, Estelline; Tara Abraham, Hamlin; Audrey Rider, Henry; Lisa Amdahl, Summit; Penny Thyen, Waverly/South Shore; Nick Fosheim, Webster
Zoom: Megann Murphy, Arlington; Lacey Ortberg, Clark; Wade Gubrud, Deuel; Sterling Eschenbaum, Lake Preston; Carrie Schiernbeck, ORR; Cory Zirbel, Waubay
Absent: Heather Landreth, Britton/Hecla; Blake Hojer, DeSmet; Amy Otten, Deubrook; Skyman Redday, Enemy Swim Day School; Jon Kahnke, Florence; Greg Bich, Iroquois; Diana LeClair, Rosholt; Jayme Trygstad, Sioux Valley; Tia Felberg, Willow Lake; Jacque Cameron, Wilmot
NESC Staff Representatives: Brenda Boyd (Z), Shelly Skogstad (Z), Stephanie Hayunga (Z) – entered at 7:26 P.M.
Member District Superintendents: Brian Sampson, Arlington; Travis Ahrens, Clark; Todd Obele, Henry
NESC Administration: Tiffany Stormo, Business Manager; Tim Frewing, Assistant Director
Call to Order
President Schuurman called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
Introduction of Guests
Brian Sampson, Travis Ahrens, Todd Obele, Brenda Boyd and Shelly Skogstad were introduced as guests.
Agenda Review, Changes, and Approval
Action #26-46 Motion by C. Zirbel, second by A. Rider, to approve the agenda with the following additions: 7f) Approval of Business Manager Resignation and 8f) Combining Bargaining Units 1 & 2. All present voted, motion carried.
Public Comment
No public comment was presented.
Conflict of Interest
No conflicts of interest were presented.
Financial Report
Action #26-47 Motion by C. Verhoek, second by A. Nielsen, to approve the financial report for the period ending January 31, 2026. All present voted, motion carried.
General Fund Special Education Fund Agency Fund
January 1, 2026 $226,693.70 $876,365.34 $14,565.77
Receipts:
Local Sources $136,168.67 $358,750.84 $3,192.64
State Sources $1,887.47
Federal Sources $174,900.00
Other
Total Monthly Receipts $136,168.67 $535,538.31 $3,192.64
Balance Forward $362,862.37 $1,411,903.65 $17,758.41
Manual Journal Entries
Less Salaries $4,487.03 $435,405.43
Less Disbursements $27,569.83 $193,194.36 $1,248.97
Total Salaries & Disbursements $32,056.86 $628,599.79 $1,248.97
Ending Cash Balance
January 31, 2026 $330,805.51 $783,303.86 $16,509.44
Consent Agenda
Action #26-48 Motion by L. Amdahl, second by A. Rider to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda: 7a) Approval of January 19, 2026 Board of Directors minutes; 7b) Approval of payment of February 2026 budget claims; 7c) Approval of Contract – Jodi Harms – $20.25 – Castlewood paraprofessional; 7d) Approval of Resignation – Regina Fastenau – Speech Language Pathologist Assistant – End of FY26; 7e) Approval of Contract – Danielle Meyer – Speech Pathologist – $67,410.06 – FY27; 7f) Approval of Resignation – Business Manager – End of FY26 contract. All present voting in favor, motion carried.
The board would like to thank Tiffany Stormo on her 9 years of service and Regina Fastenau on her 2 years of service!
February 2026 Accounts Payable
General Fund: AUTOMAXX CDJR, INC. FLEET MAINT 89.19; AXESS COOPERATIVE FLEET MAINT 61.59; B&B AUTO SALES FY26 VEHICLE 16,050.00; BMO MASTERCARD PURCH SVCS, TRAVEL, PHONE, SPLS 1,145.51;BROOKINGS AUTO MALL FY26 VEHICLE 22,744.00; BYTESPEED, LLC TECH EQ 98.00; CENEX FLEETCARD FLEET MAINT 5,575.68; CENTURY BUSINESS PRODUCTS, INC COPIER MAINT CONTRACT 9.49; DUST TEX SERVICe JAN RUG USE 6.53; EINREM, GRACE BACKGROUND CHECK 5.74; EMC INSURANCE ADD VEH COV 40.64; HAMLIN COUNTY FARMERS COOP FLEET MAINT 803.18; HEALTH EQUITY HSA/FLEX 4.88; JORDAN, ZACHARY BACKGROUND CHECK 4.80; KSB SCHOOL LAW SCHOOL MATTERS 18.56; MIDWEST GLASS, INC. FLEET MAINT 352.48; MINERT & ASSOCIATES, INC DRUG TESTING 1,046.00; NESC IMPREST 28.70; NESC PAYROLL FEB 2026 4,377.34; ROB’S AUTO REPAIR FLEET MAINT 2,306.01; TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INC TIME CLOCK 2.62; W.W. TIRE SERVICE FLEET MAINT 130.79; WATERTOWN CURRENT LLC MINUTES 2.00; WATERTOWN MOTOR COMPANY FY26 VEHICLE 16,101.00; WEBSTER AUTO CARE FLEET MAINT 297.54 Fund Total: $71,302.27
Special Education Fund: BMO MASTERCARD PURCH SVCS, TRAVEL, PHONE, SPLS 27,233.36; BYTESPEED, LLC TECH EQ 1,127.00; CASTLEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT JAN PLC USE FEE 1,666.17; CENTURY BUSINESS PRODUCTS, INC COPIER MAINT CONTRACT 109.18; DALY, ANGELA SLP CONTRACTED SERVICES 3,410.00; DUST TEX SERVICE. JAN RUG USE 75.12; EINREM, GRACE BACKGROUND CHECK 66.01; EMC INSURANCE ADD VEH COV 467.36; ENGELS, ANGELA REIMB MI 121.27; HAMLIN SCHOOL DISTRICT JAN PLC USE FEE 1,666.17; HANSEN, HEATHER ASHA DUES 250.00; HEALTH EQUITY HSA/FLEX 56.07; JORDAN, ZACHARY BACKGROUND CHECK 55.20; KSB SCHOOL LAW SCHOOL MATTERS 213.44; LAKE PRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT JAN PLC USE FEE 624.81; PARENT JAN 2026 MI REIMB 144.72; NESC PAYROLL FEB 2026 442,245.11; SOLIANT HEALTH LLC SLP CONTRACTED SERVICES 5,130.00; SPEECH PARTNERS, LLC SLP CONTRACTED SERVICES 3,851.35; TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INC TIME CLOCK 161.02; WATERTOWN CURRENT LLC MINUTES 22.96; WEBSTER SCHOOL DISTRICT JAN PLC USE FEE 1,457.90 Fund Total: $490,154.22
Discussion Items
South Dakota School Board Recognition Week
Director Nelson shared it was South Dakota School Board Recognition Week.
Assistant Director’s Report
Assistant Director Frewing shared data about rising SLP caseload and staffing for the 26-27 school year.
Director’s Report
Director Nelson discussed restructuring the Director and Assistant Director positions.
2026 ESY Provider Rates
Assistant Director Frewing presented new ESY rates for 2026.
Assistant Director’s Job Description
Director Anneke presented a new assistant director job description.
Combining Bargaining Units
Director Anneke discussed combining units 1 & 2.
Executive Session
Action #26-49 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 A. Nielsen, second by C. Verhoek to enter executive session at 7:44 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
Approval of ESY Rates for 2026
Action #26-50 Motion by A. Nielsen, second by C. Verhoek, to approve the ESY rates for 2026. The hourly pay for current NESC staff will be based on their 25-26 contracts. The pay for other providers will be based on their 25-26 contracts or on our minimum pay rates – whichever is greater. New minimum hourly rates will be $35.50 for certified staff and $18.00 for non-certified staff. All present voting in favor, motion carried.
Adjournment
Action #26-51 With there being no further business, motion by A. Nielsen, second by C. Verhoek, to adjourn. All present voted, motion carried.
The Steering Committee will meet at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD Monday, March 16, 2026 at 6:00 P.M.
The next NESC Board of Directors meeting will be held at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD Monday, March 16, 2026 at 7:00 P.M.
Arend Schuurman, President Tiffany Stormo, Business Manager
Published once on March 5, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $83.46 and can be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.