During the Dell Rapids School Board’s last meeting, they selected new officers and officially welcomed the newest board member for the year.

Troy Randall who ran unopposed was officially sworn in for another three-year term.  Paula Harvey was appointed to a one-year term to fill an open seat and was also sworn in at the meeting.

Jeff Traill was elected. as the board president.  Matt Weiland was named the vice president.

The Dells City Journal was designated the official newspaper for legal publications for the school board.  Weiland as selected as Prairie Lakes Educational Cooperative Board of Directors representative with Harvey selected as the alternate.  Traill was named the ASBSD voting delegate.

The school board meetings will continue to be held on the second Monday of every month.  The next meeting will be held on Monday, August 9th.

The Dell Rapids School Board filled its open position during their regular meeting on Monday, June 14th.

Paula Harvey was selected by the school board to fill the position.  She will assume the role starting in July for one year.

The position was not filled during the school board election held earlier in the year.  School board members Troy Randall and Jacque LeBrun had their terms come to an end this year, but only one petition was filed to fill the two spots for the election.  That petition was submitted by Randall, so he will serve another three-year term also starting in July.

The Dell Rapids School Board made updates to the “Return to Learn” plan to align it with updated CDC guidelines during their regular meeting on Monday, April 12th.  The big change will be the use of the individual desk shields.  The use of these shields will now be at the discretion of the classroom teacher.

For the elementary school, student desks will remain a minimum three feet spaced apart facing the same direction.  At that distance, students will be able to sit at their desks without a mask and not have a desk shield.  The first through fourth graders will continue to need masks when moving around the classroom or school, in art, in library, in music when singing, and whenever a three-foot distance cannot be maintained.

At the middle school, the student desks in the classroom will also need to remain at least three feet apart and facing the same direction, or if students are sitting at a table, they need to remain three feet from their table partner and remain three feet from the student at the table next to them to be able to sit and their desk or table without a mask or desk shield.  Masks will still continue to be worn when moving around the classroom, hallways, lines, and when three feet cannot be maintained.

The lunchroom at all the schools will still continue to have the dividers in place.

The school district will still require a student who is on the presumptive close contact (PCC) list to wear their mask throughout the day with the exception of PE, lunch, and recess.  The elementary and middle schools will continue to have student cohorts and seating charts so the school can contact trace if necessary.

Two spots on the Dell Rapids School Board will open up for election this summer.  The three-year terms of Troy Randall and Jacque LeBrun come to an end in July.

Petitions to be put on the ballot for election can be circulated between April 6th and May 7th.  The petitions must be filed with the business manager no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 7th.  The nominating petitions, along with information on how to circulate, will be available at the school district business office.

This year’s school board election date will be moving due to COVID-19 mitigation strategies.  The election date is normally held in April, but will be moved to June 15th, 2021.  Polls will be open that day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and all precincts will vote at the Dell Rapids Middle School/High School at 1216 Garfield Avenue.  Absentee voting by mail or in-person can begin on May 28th.  In-person absentee voting will close at 5:00 p.m. on June 14th.

Voter registration for the school board election will close on June 1st. 

The newest board member that was elected on April 9th officially started his term of service on Monday, July 8th at the Dell Rapids School Board’s regular meeting.  Lee Bollock started his three-year term replacing Jody Schumaker who finished his service on the board.  Matt Weiland was also elected to another three-year term during the April election.

After the oath of office was taken by both Bollock and Weiland, nominations for president and vice-president took place.  Weiland was nominated and voted to continue his role as president.  Jeff Traill was appointed the vice president.

Also during the meeting, the board approved the meal and admission and activity ticket prices for the 2019-2020 school year.

Student breakfast will be $1.45, and the reduced breakfast price will be $.30.  The K-4 student lunch price will be $2.80, and the 5-12 student lunch will be $2.90  The reduced lunch rate for K-12 will be $.40.  An extra traditional entree for students will be $1.80, extra pizza will be $1.90, and a chef demo meal will be $2.25.

Admission prices for activities for K-12 students will be $3.00, and the price for adults will be $5.00.  Double-header basketball games will cost students $4.00 and adults $6.00.  Resident senior citizens will receive a free permanent activities pass, which is available in the district office.  A K-8 activity pass will be $15.00, 9-12 student pass is $20.00, an adult 10-punch pass is $30.00, and an adult all-season pass is $50.00.  A family all-season pass for parents/guardians (maximum of two) and school-age children living in the same home will cost $100.00.