001Go ahead and call the September 22nd, 2025 public school board meeting to order. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. Mr. Aron here, >> Mr. Bad Olson, >> Mr. Brian, >> Mr. Darren Duckus here, >> Dr. Borton >> here, Mr. Kevin Ber >> here, >> Mr. Mark Murphy >> here. >> All right, we do have the agenda in front of us. I'd ask for a motion for approval. >> So move, Mr. President. >> I'll second by Sharp, second by Dr. Portnham. All those in favor signify by saying I. I same sign. Persons wishing to address the board. Board remarks.
002This evening we have the consent agenda in front of us. Uh, anybody need anything pulled up or want further discussion regarding the board agenda? So, move approval on the floor by Olsson, second by Sharp. Any further discussion? Just want to thank all the donations and of course, uh, Dr. Borton leading the area retired teachers and personnel group. We certainly do appreciate that. And for all those that continue to give back. All those in favor of the con tonight's consent agenda signify by saying I. >> I. Reports of the superintendent. Dr. Guffin. >> Thank you. The first item on the agenda this evening is our annual report from the Aon Public Schools Foundation and Griffin Sharp is here to present that information. >> Hello. Good evening. >> Thank you for letting me report to you again.
003Um, we start board meetings at the foundation with a mission moment and last time I came to you, I brought you a mission moment and I'd like to do the same thing again. It just helps us refocus on what our mission is and why we're here and what we do. So, my mission moment tonight, last year, last time I talked about scholarships and read excerpts from some scholarship thank you notes and our students continue to excel at thank you notes. Um, and this year one of our grants went to the esports team to um, help them host the state tournament here in Aberdine at Aberdine Central and U. Mr. Mr. Gallana had them handwrite thank you notes to the foundation board and I have kept these because they continue to be super valuable and my
004board refers back to them every once in a while. So I brought them to you tonight. There's the rest of the pile is over there and I can pass them around if you want, but they're just a few that I wanted to to highlight for you. Um, thank you for funding us so we can participate in this event. I love esports and it has been a dream of mine to compete for my school. Thank you for allowing us to compete another year. Rocket League will win the state tournament in return. Thank you for investing in Central Esports. We love your support. We get to get to play competitively because of you guys. Thanks for supporting esports. Without you, I wouldn't have had my arena for which I can compete. Um and one the last one
005and there are several more but these are just um some of the ones I wanted to share. Um, thank you for providing Central High School with all of the kids and all of the kids with an opportunity to share a hobby and express their enjoyment of esports league. This has provided me a chance to make new and better connections and friends. So, that's why we do what we do is for our students and to give them opportunities that they may not have otherwise. So, my three constants of course are the same that I come before you every time. My appreciation for this board and their vision and starting the foundation and keeping it going and so thank you for that. We went from just a few thousand dollars to now we have over $2.5 million
006in assets since 1992. My appreciation for my co-workers and the volunteers of the foundation. I could not do this without them. And so I really appreciate all the people and alumni and volunteers that I get to work with and our staff too. And the foundation continues our mission to support our students and staff. That is our main objective. So since 2004, the foundation has distributed over $ 1.9 million in grants and scholarships and programs to the Aberine public schools. And here are just a few of the ways this year that we have addressed the district's goals. Which way I'm going here? So goal of student achievement we um experiencing some technical difficulties. My arrows aren't working. >> Oh, you want to go to the next one? >> Sorry. >> I don't have control of it.
007>> Oh, you got a pop. >> Oh, okay. That's perfect. Thank you. One of the innovation partnership grants this year went to number ninjas at OM Tiffany. It's a pilot program for this exciting math program that gets students really jazzed about math and they um piloted this program and I think our grants this year the board is going to consider funding the other elementary schools and assisting them with starting their own programs. So number ninjas is a very exciting project and and our kids are obviously very excited about it too. Another project um with student achievement was the rising scholar program. We provide book grants and testing fees for students to gain college credit while they're at while they're attending Aberdine Central. So 90 students received uh Rising Scholars book grants for 130 dual credit
008classes this year. And then we also paid for 19 testing fees for students that are in free and reduced meals. Um health and wellness. Health and wellness. Uh we helped one of the innovation partnership grants that we provided was for the uh wellness the staff wellness um race to summer health challenge. There we go. Which was a lot of fun and they piloted that program this year and the foundation was happy to help with that and be able to help provide some awards and and prizes for that. Also um health and wellness goes to mental health and wellness and morale and keeping up morale. And so our golden apple awards are something that we believe does that. Um the nominations are open. Please nominate someone for a golden apple. We are seeking nominations now. And
009not only do they does the committee select three winners which get a golden apple and $500, but also every nominee receives what their nominator says about them. So in January when we come back to school and these are announced, that's a nice boost for our staff to hear that someone valued them to nominate them and and the nice things that they said about them. school and community relations. As you can imagine, this is kind of where the foundation shines as far as helping the district. So, the district grant this year went to um the ILA's instant language devices, assisted devices. So, now we have those in each of our schools, in each of our buildings. And so, the foundation helped to fund that and make that available to our staff and our families in the
010district. slides are a little bit out of order. And the district grant, like I said, for esports, that was another one. Our Eagle Pride partners that we partner with our community, we bring these these sponsors in and they they pro we promote them in the arena. And so these are some of our Eagle Pride partners this year. They provide some really great funding for the foundation that allows us to do what we do. Another grant, Innovation Partnership grant this year was for the kindergarten signing day. And I love Alyssa's pictures from this day. Every year they're fantastic. And so it's just a great way to promote signing up kids for our school and why it's a good idea to involve them in the Aberdine school district. So we're happy to be a part of that
011again this year, too. Class reunions. We brought eight reunion groups back this summer and this fall. I think we have two left this weekend. And we are just pleased as punch to be able to to work with them and to to partner with them. As you can see, they're pretty happy about it, too. These young men uh found their football trophy in the alumni room and paused paused for a picture, which was really really nice. vintage t-shirt. [Laughter] >> This was a class of 2005. >> We completed our yearbook digitization project. So, we have now we now have digital copies of all of our yearbooks and we're just really pleased to be able to do that. It's made my life a lot easier because instead of paging through yearbooks, they're actually searchable. So I can
012search for names, I can search for different things. So that's been a really big historical game changer for us because now if something happens to the paper copies, we have them digitally backed up 18 different places and you know really pleased to have that done. Um Bloom and the N9 newsletters that was that's this slide. We continue to send that out. We're trying to get it more digital rather than paper. or if someone wants a paper copy, we're happy to send it to them, but trying to focus more on the digital distribution just because it's less expensive. So, we're trying to be fiscally responsible with that. Hall of Fame. Um, we are, this is last year's class because I wanted to tell a story before I featured this year's class. Um, Kevin Craig came and
013spoke to our students. He was an AR he's he is an architect and he was a 2003 Hall of Famer and he came and talked to our students and this year a student emailed Mr. Hansen and said remember that architect that talked some to our class I'm going to architect school and I want to get in touch with him. >> Oh so we were just again pleased that we can make those connections and that's what the foundation is about is making those connections between our students and our alumni and our community. So this year we have a wonderful class again for Hall of Fame and it's this weekend. So if you don't have your tickets yet, I still have tickets available. Um but Hall of Fame is another thing that we do to promote community
014relations and and and again connect those people within our community and our schools. Night for Princess is our other big event and this again is another PR event. It it's a great fundraiser, but it's also great to talk to people about our schools and to get new families into our into the high school especially so they can see what's going on in our high schools and some of the opportunities we provide our students. So, because of all these interactive activities, um the foundation has been able to in the last year provide $2,279 for student needs. Now, this is everything from socks and underwear to winter coats, just different student needs within our district. And so those funds come from the class of 74 endowment and some generous donors through our community. So we are pleased
015to be able to provide that. We awarded over $73,000 in scholarships and over the last 5 years we've awarded over $174,000 in grants to the Aberdine School District within the Aberdine School District. uh in the last year we have established three new endowments, one restricted scholarship fund and then a significant donation. So we are totaling now 39 endowments and 12 restricted funds for scholarships and grants with the foundation. The first one I'll just briefly outline them for you. Sheila heebmore restricted scholarship fund. This is a fund for a scholarship for the student in future business leaders of America that does the best on the state contest communications contest and in fact we had the young lady this year won the contest won the state contest and she receives this scholarship. Uh Ken Meyer created an
016endowment um to support the greatest need of the foundation. He prefers it to go to rising scholars but he academic programs are his focus and so this is an endowment to help support those. He also has done a challenge with us this year to $20,000 challenge through the end of the year. So any donations towards academic projects he will match into his endowment. Um class of 73 established an endowment and this is also going to student needs once it reaches the the $10,000 mark. And class of 75 uh establish an endowment with us this year. They're the ones they're reunioning next weekend and so they're hoping to to make some traction on their on their endowment the next weekend. And this is also for foundation to decide where the greatest need is. And so we
017appreciate their trust in us to be able to use those monies where they're needed most. And then lastly, I would outline we received a an 1866 Dakota Territory map that's displayed in the Aberdine Central High School Library. And the donor was John Miller. He was a Hall of Famer and a class of class of 43, I believe, if I got that right. Yep, 43. Um, and it's just been it was a really interesting process. He wanted this map displayed in front of our students. And so that was his main goal was for them to be able to see a piece of history. And so part of the agreement with accepting this donation was that it would be displayed for at least 10 years and not a copy of it, but the actual original map. And
018so we chose carefully the place, lighting, all those things came into consideration. But we are just really pleased to be able to display this and thankful to him for that support and for our students to be able to examine something like that. So the foundation's assets currently as of 630 sit at 2,500 two 2,513,395. We are thrilled that we are able to use this to support the school district and so thank you very much um for growing the foundation and letting me be here. Um, it's I'm starting my 14th year with the foundation and it seems like it's just been yesterday. It's been it's been wonderful and every year I find something new that I enjoy. So, I really appreciate your support. Again, if you have questions, I would entertain those right now. >> Questions
019or comments? >> Two comments. >> Yes, sir. >> When we took the foundation over in 2001, I believe Dr. Gerber came and said, "You take it over. We're going to shut it down. want to remind everybody there was $8,000 that we assumed and that we are $2.5 million. So, uh, pretty astounding what we've achieved, I think, over the years that we've been responsible for that. Secondly, I want to mention Kevin Craig was a graduate of 1974. So, just so everybody knows, he was one of my classmates. >> Yes. Hey, well, Sheila Heb was in my class in 1970. So, you know, we all have, you know, >> we do. >> Yeah. >> But you do such a wonderful job and it's it's fun to work with you as well as getting ideas from you. And
020um you know, I I didn't realize how wonderful our foundation is until I talked to another school and they don't have one. They don't have anything. And it's like, oh, I thought everybody did. So, I just appreciate you two. I think our board is so proud to have be on board. >> Thank you. >> Well, I think the great thing about the foundation, I'm a big big supporter of it, but is there just enough money, not enough money and what we receive every year to meet the needs of the kids um and all that we can offer them. And the foundation supplements that by the scholarships and you know rising scholars and all these great things and my class has chosen to give um items of need for kids and and people don't realize we
021have I think 22 now ESL languages or something like that. It's it's it's incredible. It's not the same school as it was in 1974 where everybody was white, spoke English, you know, went to school. Now we have all these different kids from all these different places and um they don't know what winter is like it's out. So a coat for them is something special and people don't think that's important but boy these kids need all those those items and counselors, teachers, principles identify those needs and you know the foundation I think has just been a wonderful vehicle to meet >> the needs of the district that the budget just doesn't support. [Applause] And I'm talking to the class of 75 Saturday and I'm going to have them open up their checkbooks. >> And it all
022started with grants and Dr. Guffin was one of the first recipients of one of our teacher grants from the foundation. >> Really? >> That's neat. >> Initial grand round of grants. Y >> should have rethought that. >> You beat me to that. Yeah. You got my time, Brad. >> Obviously, we work in very similar circles and we work together on on a number of different things, but do you have a cohort of other school foundation colleagues that you work with and learn about new ideas that are going on in different school foundations and things like that? >> We did have a virtual meeting over COVID and we have been tossing around having another in-person meeting. There has 10 years ago, we had an inperson meeting. So about every five years we try to get together
023and it's a different group every time because the group does change. That's something I we've been trying to be deliberate about and and I'm trying to mentor several others into helping them with what the situation is in their school and what they can do. School foundations all look really different and so it just depends on the resources and and the environment that they're working into. >> Do most of the large schools have a foundation? >> Um it depends. Um, Sou Falls has one for all of their schools. Oh, >> okay. >> And so that they have different challenge because they have more than one high school obviously and to act as the alumni association doesn't really work for them where it's it's it's a good model for us and I I don't know how they
024do it without that close contact with alumni because that's one of the favorite parts of the job for me. >> So it just depends on the school and how that how that looks. Um I'm not sure Rapid City did at one point. Pier did at one point too, but again there's been some turnover and I'm not sure what Hiron is just starting. Um Yankton has a new gal that's in there. Yeah. >> The other thing that I think you mentioned was the matching grant which is really I think unique that if you provide $1,000 to the foundation or $2,000 that's going to be matched >> Yes. >> with that. So we can double the amount that you give by doing something like that. We've done that at the activities association foundation. We have I think
025nine or 10 match partners that allocate at least $5,000 of matching monies. So if we generate $5,000 like from the referees, we in return get $50,000 from all these matching partners. So it's a great opportunity. Oh, you have some extra change, right? To check. >> So, yep. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> You do for sure. >> Keep it up. >> Okay. The next item on the agenda is the approval of our uh 2025 final budget. There's a few changes and then we have a budget resolution as well this evening. Michaela. >> Okay. So on the revenue side, there was only one change and that was to the general fund and that was an increase to title revenue. We weren't sure at the proposed budget meeting whether we were going to get the title
026to grant. Um we did receive that. So that is the increase there. Enrollment reports are showing a higher number of students than our state aid projections. So our budget revenue should be conservative. Moving on to expenditures for general funding increase is due primarily to the title two grant expenditures that weren't in the proposed budget. Capital outlay the increase is due to carryover of unspent prior year budget allocations. Special education the expenditures decreased due primarily the staffing changes. This slide shows the budgeted surplus or deficit for each fund. General fund deficit is projected to be about 771,000. I do expect the actual deficit to be lower than this. The last couple years we spent 95 to 96% of the ex expenditure budget. Special ed budget is projected to be about 163,000. Last couple years we expended
02797 to 99% of the expenditure budget. And this last slide details fund balance or net position for each fund. The only funds with a limit are general fund and special ed. General fund the limit is lowest monthly cash balance cannot exceed 25% of expenditures. And special ed the fund balance cannot exceed 25% of annual expenditures. And as for the tax request, all the amounts and levies are set by the state. So pending any questions, I would ask the board to approve the final budget and tax request. >> All right. Anything? >> Mr. President, I would approve the 2526 budget changes and ultimately the final budget. >> Okay. >> So I I take those as two motions here first. I'd say >> correct >> separate motions. So the that was the first one the budget changes
028that makes then then makes up the new >> that okay thank you on the floor. Is there a second? >> Second by Murphy. Further discussion or questions. >> The budget represents a 1% increase for salaries for our staff. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> The state was generous enough to give us 1% this year. Right. >> They gave 1.25%. >> Great. Super. Thank you. Any further questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor of the 2526 budget changes presented by the finance director signify by saying I. >> I. >> Same sign. >> Thank you. Now we'll need u another motion on the budget resolution and annual budget levy request. >> So moved. >> Second on the floor. >> Second. Any further discussion related related to the resolution or budget levy request? Seeing none, all
029those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Oppos. >> Same sign. >> Thank you. >> Seeing no further business in front of this board, I would ask for a motion for adjournment. So moved. Second. >> Wilson. Second by Sharp. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> We are journ. Thank you very much.