By Watertown Current - March 26, 2026 in OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS – BOARD OF EDUCATION
FLORENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT #14-1
515 Main Ave.
Florence, SD 57235
Chair Rislov called the March 12, 2026, meeting of the Florence School District #14-1 board of education to order at 7:00 pm. Other board members in attendance were Bach, Hlavacek, Kahnke, and Maag. Others present were Fred Deutsch, Eila & Tony Wiegman, Jason Kann of Co-op Architect’s, Travis Schmidt (MS/HS Princ & AD), and M. Reed (Supt & Elem Princ). S. Sumner (Business Manager). The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A quorum was in attendance.
Motion by Hlavacek, second by Kahnke to approve the agenda adding: reviewal of building addition bids with Jason Kann of Co-op Architects to 3.3 and move 5.2 resolution authorizing Limited Tax General Obligation Certificates and 5.3 approval of building addition bids both to follow 3.3 and the Country School House presentation. Motion carried.
Chair Rislov introduced the following guests: Fred Deutsch, Tony & Eila Wiegman, and Jason Kann.
Fred Deutsch introduced himself. In the past he was on the Watertown school board and then a member of state legislature who is again running for a house of representative seat. He is an advocate of education. He stated that Florence is a special place and is a magnet to families and students because of its culture and progressive attitude. He tips his hat to us!
No conflicts of interest were announced.
Motion by Bach, second by Hlavacek to approve the February 9th regular minutes, correcting them to reflect that Sherri Sumner, Business Manager, was present and to correct the January 12th meeting minutes to reflect the same. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Maag to approve the following unaudited financial reports. Motion carried. REVENUE RECEIVED DURING FEBRUARY 2026: Local Sources – General 6,457.84; Capital Outlay 4,421.34; Sped 2,652.50; Bond Redemption 1,923.41; Food Serv 10,194.50; DRED -0-. County Sources – General 1,314.63. State Sources – General 254,236.87; Sped 20,531.00. Federal Sources – Food Serv 8,548.53. CASH BALANCES FEBRUARY 2026: General 751,937; Cap Out 236,037.45; Sped (70,853.11); Bond Redemption 55,113.34; Cap Projects (17,660.00); Food Serv 20,974.52; Dr. Ed. 8,511.15.
No Student Council report this month.
No questions on the School Board Forum this month.
Eila Wiegman, Country School House Museum coordinator, spoke to the board about its repair needs. She reviewed the timeline of when the school was first brought to Florence in 2004 to now. Sherri had lost all of her pioneers (Karen Jaskulka, Lisa Fuhrer, and Marvel Newell) and in 2009 when Eila learned of it and she volunteered to oversee it. She expressed the importance of it to this community. She reviewed the match grant she wrote with the Watertown Community Foundation in the amount of $4200 and stated that the match had been met having $8400 now available. She said that it really needs replacement repairs rather than bandaids and asked the board for input and/or money to cover this. Chair Rislov and HS Principal Schmidt both shared some ideas on additional ways involving the students and community to encourage donations. This will be addressed further in the next couple months.
Jason Kann of Co-op Architects present the bid tallies and addressed any questions of the board. Bids are as follows: Sentry $1,325,948 base bid with alternate of $22,000 for a total of $1,347,948; Gray Construction $1,356,000 base bid with alternate of $22,500 for a total of $1,378,500; Mills Construction $1,379,500 base bid with alternate of $22,800 for a total of $1,402,300 and Hasslen Construction $1,524,000 base bid with alternate of $22,900 for a total of $1,546,900.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach approving a resolution authorizing Limited Tax General Obligation Certificates in the amount of $1,425,000. Motion carried.
Motion by Hlavacek, second by Maag to approve the low bid of Sentry, LLC. along with the alternate and contingency in the amount of $1,415,346. Motion carried.
Mr. Reed, Supt/Elem principal, reported that the students had participated in activities for both the Winter Olympics and Read Across America, NPIP health insurance meeting was held this week with Florence receiving a 2% reduction in rates, he plans to do the MS/HS principal and counselor evaluations in late April, that an inclusion fair will be held this year rather than a career fair, the part-time school nurse had recently started and in her student’s absence she has been working on checking student files for immunizations and birth certificates. He asked the board to please pass the word about the Scholarship Endowment Casino Night Fundraiser. He extended congratulations to the following students as Principals for a Day: Tucker Dahl, Blake Fleming, Kimberly Hieb, Quinn Kahnke & Kami Tuttle; and to the Scholars of the Month: Cade Eisenbraun, Isaiah DeVries, Gracie Lindner, Thomas Hagen, Ella Cease, Josie Jacobson, Keegan Smith, Boone Huppler, Tucker Dahl, and Addalyn Johnson.
Mr. Schmidt, MS/HS principal & AD, reported that students participated in National History Day with 6 projects advancing to state competition in April, ProStart was recently in Pierre for a state-wide competition, science fair competitors took the ECC for the 3rd year in a row and FFA is traveling for several CDE competitions. Congratulations to all the aforementioned students! Parent-Teacher conferences will be next Monday & Tuesday evenings with Spring break to follow. He reviewed a student survey he sent out that mostly pertained to the modified block schedule and the cell phone policy. There was considerable feedback. As for AD information, the winter sports awards night will be Tuesday, March 24th and spring sports training will start within the next few weeks. The school will be searching for a volleyball coach.
Florence has approximately 35 students registered for NTHS this coming fall, which is a record number.
NESC will undergo changes in the administrative staff. Interviews are underway for an assistant director and a business manager.
Supt. Reed reported that the school site will be tested for water lead with a grant that will take care of all costs ensued including repairs and replacements. He stated that the deed transfer of the football field from the town to the school has been finalized. The alternate bid on the addition project is for the replacement of the flagpole. The bid did not encompass any parking. He also shared that he attended the town board monthly meeting to plant the idea of the school renting the community center for competitive cheer practice and other future athletic opportunities. The town board will consider this request.
A Falcon wrap will be adhered to the white minibus over spring break.
Capital Outlay budget for next year in respect to growing enrollment was reviewed. The two-classroom addition will address immediate needs as next year we will have a second section in second grade in addition to Kdgt & first grades. General Fund will be reviewed next month once legislation concludes.
Next year’s MS/HS block schedule along with registrations are near completion.
Legislation bill proposals affection K-12 education was reviewed.
A second 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 second 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 second 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.
School board policy IFK concerning early graduation was reviewed and discussed.
Mr. Mitch Reed was pleased to announce Mrs. Brooklyn Schulte and Mrs. Kendra Mastel as the 2025-26 Teacher and Classified Staff of the Year, respectively. Congratulations were extended to both!
The parent survey was reviewed.
Motion by Maag, second by Bach to approve payment of the bills presented. Motion carried. Active Heating – serv 2007.43; T. Aslesen – supp 110.30; Automatic Building Controls – annual monitor contract 3030.00; BHSSC – tuition 1680; A. Bloom – official book (8.5) 144.50; Bright Future Press – supp 235.32; CBP – copier CPC & lease pmts 1890.86; Co-op Architecture – final 75% of Design Development 13,245.00 and 100% of Construction Documents 35,320.00; Cole Papers – supp 1402.03; CWD – FS food 7876.98;Doug’s Auto – Terrain serv 316.98; Duenwald Transportation – CDL training 2200.00; Elite Drain & Sewer – serv 202.50; Endres Construction – snow removal (18 hrs) 1800.00; Florence Water & Sewer – 498.14; G&R Controls – ½ year preventative maintenance 4519.40; George’s Sanitation – (2 mo) 510.00; Hillyards- supp 1851.23; B. Huppler – gas 63.00; parent – milg224.00; ITC – 166.61; IXL – add’l site licenses 1406.25; JW Pepper – music 151.50; KMI – serv 644.85; L. Lien – ref JH games (4) 120.00; Lindner Music – flute & serv 450.00; D. Nelsen- shot clock (19) 323.00; T. Nelsen – ref C gam 20.00; NESC – assessment 10,910.51 & CB tuition 6427.73; Northwestern Energy – 8312.19; QuickCare – DOT physical 85.00; N. Russell – subscriptions & supp 246.63; Safe-N-Secure – supp 9.13; P. Schmig – ref JH games (7) 140.00; Z. Schroeder – shot clock (3) 51.00; SD Dept of Ed (CANS) – processed food 379.20; Sheyenne Transport – bus serv 5174.55; Sioux Valley Co-op – diesel, LP & gas 3222.23; Watertown Current – publications 154.18; J. Bach – JH BBB coach 2983.00; J. Eisenbraun – ref JH games (2) 40.00; C. Flemming – game clock (25) 425.00; T. Grassel – ref JH, C & JV games 200.00; J. Hintz – official book (12.5) 212.50; B. Huppler – Asst. BBB coach 3868.00; D. Kahnke – sub bus 129.80; J. Kahnke – sub teach 116.40; D. Keller – sub teach 232.80; S. Keller – C GBB coach 2983.00 & official book (4) 68.00; H. Kerkvliet – sub teach 256.08; D. Lund – sub bus 649.00 & ref JH games (2) 40.00; L. Maag – activity bus trip 113.90 and sub NTHS 43.25; E. Mack – sub bus 389.40; K. Mastel – game custodian 60.00; S. Nelsen – sub teach 89.76; A. Raeder – sub teach 116.40; J. Rayner – sub teach 650.00 & kitchen help 547.50; M. Reed – sub bus 20.00 & ref JH, C & JV games 420.00; S. Rislov – sub teach 216.30; W. Roe – head BBB coach 4854.00, practice bus 350.00, and activity bus trips 302.75; M. Rossow – sub kitchen 219.60; N. Russell – Esports advisor 2353.00, activity bus trips 137.45, sub bus 194.70, and ref JH, C & JV games 400.00; R. Schaefer-Goens – cheer coach 1062.00; T. Schmidt – activity bus trips 248.70 and ref JH, C & JV games 600.00; B. Schulte – head GBB coach 4854.00; C. Schwinger – sub teach 216.30; T. Shepherd – sub NTHS & activity bus trips 318.23; Jamie Shaffner – school nurse 1395.00; A. Koll – shot clock (3) 51.00 and activity bus trip 43.25; Markie Kohlenberg – apprenticeship program 276.25; Emery Schamber – apprenticeship program 292.50; J. Cariveau – custodial 2228.94; S. Hulford – custodial 2074.16; K. Kitto – 2873.61; Instructional Salaries 136,934.75; Supportive Salaries 42,934.62; 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 45,787.55; NPIP – group medical, vision and HSA accts & fees 38,611.28; SDRS – contributions 24,078.32; SD Supplemental Retirement – contributions 3,700.00; Standard – life ins. 171.73.
Motion by Hlavacek, second by Kahnke to authorize the 2026 Drivers Ed program (June 8-11 for class instruction) and establish a tuition fee of $350/Florence enrolled students and $450/all other students. There will only be one session. Motion carried.
Motion by Maag, second by Hlavacek to approve and proceed once again with the Summer School Enrichment Program. Motion carried.
Motion by Maag, second by Kahnke to approve the revisions to Code B in the board policies. Motion carried.
Motion by Maag, second by Hlavacek to approve the Student Awards and Recognition Policy. Motion carried.
Motion by Bach, second by Hlavacek to approve the Transfer Credit and Placement Policy. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach to recognize the local FEA (Florence Education Association) as the official bargaining unit for the teaching staff for 2026-27 contract negotiations. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach to enter into executive session at 10:39 pm for SDCL 1-25-2.2 (student matter) and SDCL 1-25-2.1 (personnel matter). Motion carried.
Chair Rislov declared the board out of executive session at 11:41 pm.
Motion by Maag, second by Hlavacek to adjourn at 11:41 pm. Motion carried.
Sherri Sumner, Business Manager Cory Rislov, Chair
Published once on March 26, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $124.54 and can be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.