By Watertown Current - May 28, 2026 in OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS – BOARD OF EDUCATION
FLORENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT #14-1
515 Main Ave.
Florence, SD 57235
Chair Rislov called the May 11, 2026, meeting of the Florence School District #14-1 board of education to order at 7:34 pm. Other board members in attendance were Bach, Kahnke, and Maag. Others present were Brandon Heim of The Watertown Current, 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 Maag, second by Bach to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
No conflicts of interest were announced.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Hlavacek to approve the April meeting minutes. Motion carried.
Motion by Hlavacek, second by Maag to approve the following unaudited financial reports. Motion carried. REVENUE RECEIVED DURING APRIL 2026: Local Sources – General 17,824.61; Capital Outlay 25,246.18; Sped 13,482.42; Bond Redemption 10,112.30; Food Serv 10,860.15; DRED 2,650.00. County Sources – General 1,401.78. State Sources – General 222,596.00; Sped 20,531.00. Federal Sources – Food Serv 9,732.04. CASH BALANCES APRIL 2026: General 600,412.89; Cap Out 275,864.14; Sped 2,256.01; Bond Redemption 54,787.64; Cap Projects 1,354,345.00; Food Serv 27,355.42; Dr. Ed. 15,361.15.
No Student Council report this month.
No questions on the School Board Forum this month.
Mr. Reed, Supt/Elem principal, reported on end-of-year elem student council activities, MAPS & Smarter Balance tests, summer Falcon’s Night Out, National FBLA coming up the end of June, a meeting for Washington DC/NYC summer of 2027, summer school, staff check-out, and summer plans.
Mr. Schmidt, MS/HS principal & AD, reported on MAPS & Smarter Balance tests, upcoming awards night, baccalaureate & graduation, spring activities including National Land & Range Judging in Oklahoma, golf, track & softball.
Florence has 35+ students registered for NTHS this coming fall, which is a record number.
NESC agenda was reviewed.
Contractor will break ground on Monday, May 18th for the 2-classroom addition. Both sections of Kindergarten will be in the new addition.
Supt. Reed reported that he plans to pursue a grant to assist with the needed Country School Museum repairs. He also stated that the security cameras will be upgraded, HVAC work, Audio Enhancement expansion, concrete work on the north side of the elementary, the purchase of additional active panels and the development of a new Open Gym policy will be addressed early summer.
Other than the 2012 bus giving us trouble again, there is nothing new to add for a transportation report.
Florence School, along with a couple other area schools received word from the Watertown District that we will no longer be able to drop students off at the Boys & Girls Club on the afternoon route. Florence will still be allowed the Armory drop-off & pick-up.
A Smarter Balance & Pre-ACT test score packet was distributed and reviewed. Smarter Balance scores are low and MAPS scores were outstanding. Discussion followed.
Discussion on the possibility of adding wrestling to our line-up of sports. It has already been decided that Competitive Cheer will be added this fall. After much discussion, it was decided that we do not have the facilities to add wrestling.
This summer the cell phone policy, missing homework procedures, and communication with parents procedures will be reviewed and re-evaluated. Discussion followed.
Staffing along with room assignments was reviewed.
Motion by Maag, second by Kahnke to approve payment of the bills presented. Motion carried. ACT – pre-ACT scoring 805.00; Advantage RVs & Graphics – gas pump wraps 585.00; B. Binde – supp 155.52; Black Hills Special Services Coop – tuition 1,755.00; M. Black – OI judge 65.00; Newton Campbell – OI judge 65.00; Carolina Biological Supp – supp 55.60; CBP – CPC & copier lease pmts 1,839.64; Cole Papers – supp 322.58; Co-op Architecture – serv 2,522.86; Collier’s Securities – serv 20,000.00; CWD – FS groceries 5,872.53; Doug’s Auto – suburban serv 74.00; ECC – add’l assessment 300.00; Dash Ebsen – OI judge 65.00; Lillian Ficek – OI judge 65.00; Florence School Trust & Agency – January & February reimbursements including refs, registrations & supp 9,843.79; Florence Water & Sewer – 497.57; George’s Sanitation – March & April 510.00; Hauf Mid-America – supp 325.00; Hillyards – supp 2,089.84; P. Hlavacek – potted flowers 242.97; parent – milg 112.00; ITC – 159.88; M. Kohlenberg – OI judge (4) 260.00; A. Koll – reimb 61.29; L. Maag – supp 17.26; K. Mastel – OI judge 65.00; Meiehenry Sargent – serv 5,000.00; Menards – supp 9.95; NESC – assessment 10,910.51, Centerbase tuition 3,563.77 & D&A testing pool fees 803.27; Northwestern Energy – 6,482.54; Olson’s Pest Technicians – serv 125.00; QuickCare – DOT physicals (2) 170.00; Roy’s Sport Shop – supp 839.94; Safe-n-Secure – serv 1,039.33; SD Dept of Health – serv 1,182.50; Sheyenne Transport – bus serv 2,304.91; Sioux Valley Co-op – diesel, LP & gas 11,157.57; Watertown Current – publications 95.42; Bryan Rock – SB field agriline 2,046.85; Capital One Public Funding – 2022 CO Cert int pmt 22,781.77; K. Boyum – activity bus trips 86.50; S. Busskohl – 1st ½ head track coach stipend 1,442.00; D. Harmel – sub teach 116.40; J. Hintz – activity bus trip 43.25; M. Hintz – activity bus trip 43.25; L. Jacobson – custodial 255.00; D. Keller – sub tach 171.11; H. Kerkvliet – sub teach 186.24; M. Klitzke – bus sub 20.00; D. Lund – sub bus 97.35; E. Mack – bus sub 32.45; S. Nelsen – sub teach 936.58; T. Paulson – sub bus 129.80; A. Raeder – sub teach 368.99; J. Raymer – kitchen asst. 645.00 & sub teach 325.53; S. Rislov – sub teach 108.15; N. Russell – sub bus 97.35; R. Schaefer-Goens – sub teach 1189.66; T. Schmidt – activity bus trips 259.50; C. Schwinger – sub teach 2287.08; ; T. Fuller – bus route & bus activity trips 2263.38; A. Koll – sub bus & bus activity trips 324.40; P. Paulson – sub bus & bus activity trips 1751.48; J. Shaffner – school nurse 4650.00; Markie Kohlenberg – apprenticeship program 302.25; Emery Schamber – apprenticeship program 354.25; J. Cariveau – custodial 2,799.88; S. Hulford – custodial 2,618.75; K. Kitto – 3,580.68; Instructional Salaries 136,934.75; Supportive Salaries 47,827.04; Food Serv Salaries 4,169.64; AFLAC – insurance withholdings 2,331.17; Avanti Federal Credit Union – withholding 350.00; AXA Equitable – annuities 40.00; Delta Dental – group dental insurance 3,294.18; IRS – FIT & FICA withholding 43,410.53; NPIP – group medical, vision and HSA accts & fees 38,611.28; SDRS – contributions 23,007.46; SD Supplemental Retirement – contributions 3,700.00; Standard – life ins. 171.73.
Motion by Hlavacek, second by Bach to issue diplomas to graduating seniors. Motion carried.
Motion by Bach, second by Hlavacek to accept the presented 2026-27 preliminary budget. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Maag to cast SDHSAA ballots for Jeff Kosters, Fredrick Area School District for Division IV Superintendent Representative; to vote “yes” to amend Chapter I, Part IV, Section 1, Subsection D of the SDHSAA By-laws; to vote “yes” to amend Chapter II, Part I, Section 1, Subsection J of the SDHSAA By-laws; and lastly to vote “yes” to amend Chapter I, Part III, Section IV of the SDHSAA By-laws. Motion carried.
Motion by Maag, second by Hlavacek to approve the presented open enrollment applications. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Hlavacek to accept the returned signed certified staff contracts of Tara Aslesen, Becky Binde, Katrina Boyum, Stacey Busskohl, Kami Dilworth, Joel Eisenbraun, Paula Florey, Tyler Grassel, Rachael Jaeger, Mayce Kahnke, Marcy Klitzke, Adam Koll, Hannah Kranz, Jordan Lanke, Hilarie Lenox, Dan Lund, Jenny Lund, Shari Reed, Brittany Russell, Nathan Russell, Brooklyn Schulte, Misty Snoddy, and Sarah Spiering. New contracts issued, signed, and approved include Tammy Hendrickson, Tammra Kaaz, Morgan Schroeder, Tammy Taecker, and Samanta Toering. Motion carried.
Motion by Hlavacek, second by Maag to issue employment agreements to classified staff and to issue contracts to administration which includes Mitchell Reed, Superintendent/Elem Principal, Travis Schmidt, MS/HS Principal and Sherri Sumner, Business Manager. Motion carried.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Bach to enter into executive session at 9:55 pm for SDCL 1-25-2.4 (negotiations). Motion carried.
Chair Rislov declared the board out of executive session at 11:09 pm.
Motion by Kahnke, second by Maag to adjourn at 11:09 pm. Motion carried.
Sherri Sumner, Business Manager Cory Rislov, Chair
Published once on May 28, 2026, at the total approximate cost of $85.02 and can be viewed free of charge at www.sdpublicnotices.com and www.watertowncurrent.com.