By OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS – BOARD OF EDUCATION
FLORENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT #14-1
Chair Rislov called the February 9, 2026, meeting of the Florence School District #14-1 board of education to order at 6:30 pm. Other board members in attendance were Bach, Kahnke, and Maag. Hlavacek was absent. Others present were Travis Schmidt (MS/HS Princ), and M. Reed (Supt). S. Sumner (Business Manager) was absent. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A quorum was in attendance.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach to approve the agenda adding 6.5-acceptance of the signed part-time nurse contract. Motion carried.
Motion by Maag, second by Bach to enter into executive session at 6:43 pm for SDCL 1-25-2.1 (personnel matter).
Chair Rislov declared the board out of executive session at 8:10 pm.
No conflicts of interest were announced.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Maag to approve the minutes of the regular January 12th board meeting. Motion carried.
Motion by Bach, second by Maag to approve the following unaudited financial reports. Motion carried. REVENUE RECEIVED DURING DECEMBER 2025: Local Sources – General 15,977.07; Capital Outlay 9,337.46; Sped 5,925.62; Bond Redemption 4,192.70; Food Serv 9,224.65; DRED -0-. County Sources – General 1,154.55. State Sources – General 222,596.00; Sped 20,531.00. Federal Sources – Food Serv 9,258.68. CASH BALANCES DECEMBER 2025: General 732,468.18; Cap Out 248,053.12; Sped (27,930.89); Bond Redemption 53,189.93; Food Serv 21,351.63; Dr. Ed. 8,511.15.
No Student Council report this month.
No questions on the School Board Forum this month.
Mr. Reed, Supt/Elem principal, reported that the FCA formal was February 7th and the HS Slush Winter Formal will be February 14th. Teacher and Classified Staff of the year nominations are due the 16th. Parent-Teacher conferences are March 16th & 17th with MS/HS only on Tuesday the 17th. Donkey Basketball will be back…stay tuned. The 5th Annual Scholarship Endowment Fundraiser will be Friday, April 10th with a Casino Night. Sioux Valley Co-op will be wrapping the tanks at the Sidetrack with our Falcon logo and donating 1 cent for every gallon pumped. Thank you in advance to Sioux Valley Co-op! He extended congratulations to the following students as Principals for a Day: Charlotte Flemming, Layton Haar, Indra Lynch, and Tyson Schwinger; and to the Scholars of the Month: Nolan Russell, Nora Grassel, Kaysn Dent, DJ Andrews, Memphis Weidner, Ashton Sell, Maliyah Warne, Indra Lynch, Logan Pearson, and Beckett Hendrickson.
Mr. Schmidt, MS/HS principal & AD, commended the variety and uniqueness of the seniors on their senior capstone projects. So far, they have varied from a children’s fishing clinic, a sewing workshop, and a VB tournament. He stated that test prep measures are in place, that Mr. Koll took the Wildlife/Fisheries class ice fishing, that the 8th grade will be touring NTHS, Slush Week (aka Winter Homecoming) is underway, the local science fair will be this Wednesday, and that National FFA week is February 23rd – 27th. As for AD information, winter sports are coming to a close, basketball schedules are almost done for next year, the state sets the FB schedule. He wished the following Esports contestants best of luck at this weekend’s state contest: Anthony Wright, Ayden Kerfiren, Isaiah Sandau, Hudson Mastel, Lane & Carl Moes,
NTHS and NESC points of interest were reviewed.
Supt. Reed presented the timetable for the 2 room addition and stated that next month we will approve the financing when we have a more accurate idea of the amount needed. He stated that he informed the county highway superintendent that the handicap spot on main does not drain the water since the resurfacing project. He is also pleased to state that the geothermal system is running well.
Supt. Reed stated that Agwrx and Minnwest along with the company Octane from Tea are willing to sponsor the vast majority of the wrap we will apply on the white minibus. A candidate for driving bus will soon be licensed.
Legislation affecting K-12 education was reviewed.
There has been some interest in starting a competitive cheer program. Supt. Reed will look into what that all entails from start-up cost to practice facilities.
Supt. Reed asked the board if they had any specific questions they wanted to see on the annual parent survey.
A first reading of Code B, which deals with board governance and operations was reviewed. Other than a few additions there are minimal clerical and grammar changes. Full language is on file in the business office and linked to the webpage.
A first reading of a Student Awards and Recognition Policy was reviewed and discussed. Full language is on file in the business office and linked to the webpage.
A first reading of Transfer Credit and Placement Policy was reviewed and discussed. Full language is on file in the business office and linked to the webpage.
Two 2026-27 school calendar proposals were presented with the main difference being the start and end dates.
Motion by Kahnke second by Bach to approve payment of the bills presented. Motion carried. Active Heating – serv 529.25; BHSSC – tuition 4780.00; CBP – copier CPC & lease pmts 1737.19; Co-op Architecture – final 10% of Master Plan 1950.00, 100% of Schematic Design 13245.00 and 25% of Design Development 4415.00; Core Educational Coop – tuition 3900.00; CWD – FS food 8969.67; EMC – auto ins ’13 mini bus 559.00; Family First Homecare of SD – nurse serv 4321.80; Florence Sewer & Water – 475.72; Hillyards – maint supp 1814.52; B. Huppler – gas ’13 mini bus 50.00; ITC – 162.59; Jurgen’s Printing – supp 756.00; JW Pepper – supp 390.64; KSB School Law – legal counsel 50.00; Lindner Music – serv 150.00 & equipment 480.00; Menards – supp 39.86; NESC – assessment 10910.51 & centerbase tuition 6427.73; J. Nelsen – used tenor sax 250.00; Northwestern Energy – electricity 7974.51; Office Peeps – supp 50.88; parent – milg 224.00; Ronke Heating & Colling – walk-in freezer start-up 153.06; Safe-N-Secure Security Equipment – supp 9.13; School Specialty – supp 614.62; SD Dept. of Ed (CANS) – processed commodities 869.40; Sheyenne Transport – bus serv 5160.55 and used 2013 mini bus down pmt 15,000.00; Sioux Valley Co-op – diesel, LP & gas 12641.46; Teachers pay Teachers – curriculum 300.24; Two Trees Technologies – serv 450.00; Watertown Current – publications 90.74; S. Flisrand – office asst. & sub. 378.26; K. Haisch – sub teach 108.15; J. Hintz – activity bus trip 86.50; M. Hintz – bus sub 32.45; D. Kahnke – sub bus 75.70; D. Keller – sub teach 334.07; H. Kerkvliet – sub teach 93.12; M. Klitzke – One Act Play director 1565.18; D. Lund – bus sub 97.35; L. Maag – activity bus trips 247.28 & bus sub 32.45; E. Mack – bus sub 227.15; K. Mastel – game custodian & custodial sub 465.20; J. McCreary – bus sub 292.05; S. Nelsen – sub teach 32.45; R. Nelson Bergh – sub teach 116.40; T. Paulson – activity bus trips & bus sub 313.25; A. Raeder – sub teach 197.88; J. Raymer – sub teach 403.40 & kitchen asst 393.75; C. Schwinger – sub teach 216.30; T. Shepherd – activity bus trips & sub NTHS 271.05; Markie Kohlenberg – apprenticeship program 243.75; Emery Schamber – apprenticeship program 211.25; J. Cariveau – custodial 2320.29; S. Hulford – custodial 2711.48; K. Kitto – custodial 2869.07; Instructional Salaries 132,481.97; Supportive Salaries 42,847.16; Food Serv Salaries 4,169.64; AFLAC – insurance withholdings 2,305.97; Avanti Federal Credit Union – withholding 350.00; AXA Equitable – annuities 40.00; Delta Dental – group dental insurance 3,294.18; IRS – FIT & FICA withholding 44,381.98; NPIP – group medical, vision and HSA accts & fees 38,611.28; SDRS – contributions 22,512.38; SD Supplemental Retirement – contributions 3,700.00; Standard – life ins. 171.73.
Motion by Bach, second by Maag to approve the 2026 School Master Calendar with an August 19th start date and a Friday, May 14th end date. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Maag to finalize the approval of the Florence-Henry sport co-op with a signature on the actual co-op agreement between the two schools. Motion carried.
Motion by Maag, second by Kahnke to rehire Mr. Mitch Reed as Supt./Elem Princ., Mr. Travis Schmidt as
MS/HS Principal and Sherri Sumner as Business Manager for 2026-27. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach to accept the signed contract of Jamie Shaffner as a nurse/intervener 2 days/week for $60.00/hour. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach to enter into executive session at 10:44 pm for SDCL 1-25-2.1 (personnel matter). Motion carried.
Chair Rislov declared the board out of executive session at 11:50 pm.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach to adjourn at 11:50 pm. Motion carried.
Sherri Sumner, Business Manager Cory Rislov, Chair
Published once on February 26, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $87.10 and can be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.
