Northeast Educational Services Cooperative, Board of Directors Meeting, Monday, March 16, 2026

Northeast Educational Services Cooperative
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, March 16, 2026

The Board of Directors for the Northeast Educational Services Cooperative (NESC) met in regular session on Monday, March 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 8:20 P.M.

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

Zoom:
Megann Murphy, Arlington; Amy Otten, Deubrook; Chris Verhoek, Estelline; Jon Kahnke, Florence; Sterling Eschenbaum, Lake Preston; Carrie Schiernbeck, ORR; Diana LeClair, Rosholt; Jayme Trygstad, Sioux Valley; Nick Fosheim, Webster; Tia Felberg, Willow Lake; Jacque Cameron, Wilmot – entered at 7:43 P.M.

Absent:
Heather Landreth, Britton/Hecla; Skyman Redday, Enemy Swim Day School; Greg Bich, Iroquois; Cory Zirbel, Waubay

NESC Staff Representatives: Brenda Boyd (Z), Shelly Skogstad (Z), Stephanie Hayunga (Z), Melissa Gent (Z), Teresa Landmark (Z), Nicol Huyvaert (Z)

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

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, Shelly Skogstad, Stephanie Hayunga, Melissa Gent, Teresa Landmark and Nicol Huyvaert were introduced as guests.

Agenda Review, Changes, and Approval
Action #26-52        Motion by A. Nielsen, second by L. Amdahl, to approve the agenda with the following removals: 10c, 10d and 10e.  All present voted, motion carried.

Public Comment
No public comment was presented.

Conflict of Interest
No conflicts of interest were presented.

Financial Report
Action #26-53 Motion by A. Rider, second by L. Ortberg, to approve the financial report for the period ending February 28, 2026. All present voted, motion carried.

General Fund Special Education Fund Agency Fund
February 1, 2026 $330,805.51 $783,303.86 $16,509.44
Receipts:
Local Sources $1,987.80 $358,721.31 $2,284.07
State Sources $3,954.39
Federal Sources $263,242.00
Other $3,132.00
Total Monthly Receipts $5,119.80 $625,917.70 $2,284.07
Balance Forward $335,925.31 $1,409,221.56 $18,793.51
Manual Journal Entries

Less Salaries $4,377.34 $442,245.11
Less Disbursements $66,889.17 $47,497.87 $1,834.17
Total Salaries & Disbursements $71,266.51 $489,742.98 $1,834.17
Ending Cash Balance
February 28, 2026 $264,658.80 $919,478.58 $16,959.34

Consent Agenda
Action #26-54        Motion by W. Gubrud, second by A. Nielsen to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda: 7a) Approval of February 16, 2026 Board of Directors minutes; 7b)  Approval of payment of March 2026 budget claims; 7c) Approval of Resignation – Amy Lindemann – Webster Pathways Teacher; 7d) Approval of Resignation – Lisa Reinhiller – RDA Coach; 7e) Approval of Resignation – Jody Gary – Educational Evaluator; 7f) Approval of Contract – Jody Gary – School Psychologist Intern – FY27 –.  All present voting in favor, motion carried.

March 2026 Accounts Payable
General Fund: AXESS COOPERATIVE FLEET MAINT 61.35; BMO MASTERCARD PURCH SVCS, TRAVEL, PHONE, SPLS 27,233.36; BROOKINGS AUTO MALL FLEET MAINT 74.90; BYTESPEED, LLC TECH EQ 211.92; CENEX FLEETCARD FLEET MAINT 5,853.77; CENTURY BUSINESS PRODUCTS, INC COPIER MAINT CONTRACT 8.91; DUST TEX SERVICE, INC. FEB RUG USE 6.70; FRANKMAN MOTOR COMPANY FLEET MAINT 118.32; FRITZ CHEVROLET, INC FLEET MAINT 491.16; HAHLER AUTOMOTIVE FLEET MAINT 132.50; HAMLIN COUNTY FARMERS COOP FLEET MAINT 337.84; HARMS, JODI BACKGROUND CHECK 4.80; HEALTH EQUITY HSA/FLEX 6.12; KSB SCHOOL LAW SCHOOL MATTERS 50.40; MINERT & ASSOCIATES, INC DRUG TESTING 946.00; NESC PAYROLL MARCH 2026 4,367.89; ROB’S AUTO REPAIR FLEET MAINT 860.21; TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INC TIME CLOCK 2.69; W.W. TIRE SERVICE FLEET MAINT 623.09; WAIKEL, ERIN BACKGROUND CHECK 4.80; WATERTOWN CURRENT LLC MINUTES 13.71; WEBSTER AUTO CARE FLEET MAINT 2,152.24

Fund Total: $16,567.57

Special Education Fund: BMO MASTERCARD PURCH SVCS, TRAVEL, PHONE, SPLS 27,233.36; BYTESPEED, LLC TECH EQ 2,437.08; CASTLEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT FEB PLC USE FEE 1,874.44; CENTURY BUSINESS PRODUCTS, INC COPIER MAINT CONTRACT 102.41; DALY, ANGELA SLP CONTRACTED SERVICES 14,162.50; DUST TEX SERVICE, INC. FEB RUG USE 77.10; HAMLIN SCHOOL DISTRICT FEB PLC USE FEE 1,457.90; HARMS, JODI BACKGROUND CHECK 55.20; HEALTH EQUITY HSA/FLEX 70.38; KRINGEN, KELSEY OT REGIS 179.99; KSB SCHOOL LAW SCHOOL MATTERS 579.60; LAKE PRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT FEB PLC USE FEE 624.81; LANDMARK, TERESA REIMB MI 164.15; PARENT FEB 2026 MI REIMB 144.72; NESC PAYROLL MARCH 2026 446,249.60; REINHILLER, LISA ED SPEC TRAVEL 88.00; TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INC TIME CLOCK 165.18; WAIKEL, ERIN BACKGROUND CHECK 55.20; WATERTOWN CURRENT LLC MINUTES 157.63; WEBSTER SCHOOL DISTRICT FEB PLC USE FEE 1,457.90

Fund Total: $491,520.91

Discussion Items
Assistant Director’s Report
Assistant Director Frewing gave an update on ESY providers and contracts. He also shared he has been combining negotiated agreements for Units 1&2.

Director’s Report
Director Nelson gave an update on the legislative session and staffing.

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

Assistant Director’s Job Description
President Schuurman presented the second reading of the new assistant director job description.

FY27 NESC Monthly Insurance Allocation
Business Manager Stormo presented FY27 NESC monthly insurance allocation including health, dental and basic life renewal rates.

NESC Building Update
Director Anneke gave an update on topics related to the building.

Assistant Director’s Job Description
President Schuurman presented the second reading of the new assistant director job description.

Moving From Two Negotiated Units to One
Director Anneke shared moving to one Unit will not occur for FY27.

Executive Session
Action #26-55        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 L. Amdahl, second by J. Trygstad to enter executive session at 7:30 P.M. All present voting in favor, motion carried.

President Schuurman declared the board out of executive session at 8:16 P.M.

Action Items
Approval of FY27 NESC Monthly Insurance Allocation 

Action #26-56         Motion by A. Rider, second by P. Thyen to approve FY27 NESC monthly insurance allocation.  All present voting in favor, motion carried.

Adoption of NESC Assistant Director Job Description

Action #26-57         Motion by L. Ortberg, second by T. Abraham, to adopt assistant director job description. All present voting in favor, motion carried.

Adjournment
Action #26-58        With there being no further business, motion by A. Nielsen, second by S. Roth, 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, April 20, 2026, at 7:00 P.M.

____________________________
Arend Schuurman, President

____________________________
Tiffany Stormo, Business Manager

Published once on March 26, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $79.04 and can be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.