7 takeaways from Huron School District 2-2 board meeting

Huron School District awarded $3.1 million grant for literacy

District spending down nearly $300,000 from last year

High school addition complete, district takes ownership

Board sets state legislative priorities for upcoming session

Key Club raises $1,200 for UNICEF, continues community service

District celebrates numerous student and staff achievements

District pushes parental engagement through online portal

Huron School District awarded $3.1 million grant for literacy

HURON, S.D. – The Huron School District has been selected to receive a $3.1 million grant to implement the Science of Reading initiative, Superintendent Dr. Kraig Steinhoff announced at the Nov. 10 board meeting. The four-year grant will fund extensive teacher training, literacy coaches, new curriculum and student screening tools aimed at improving reading proficiency. Steinhoff explained the primary focus will be on students in pre-kindergarten through third grade, with the goal of ensuring students are reading to learn, rather than learning to read, by fourth grade. The grant requires the new literacy coaches to train adult staff on phonics-based instruction and prohibits them from working directly with students.

District spending down nearly $300,000 from last year

HURON, S.D. – The Huron School District’s general fund expenditures are down approximately $298,000 compared to the same time last year, Business Manager Kelly Christopherson reported. After accounting for the absence of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grant funds used last year, the decrease reflects a concerted effort by district staff to conserve budgets. Christopherson noted that the most significant savings came from a $125,000 reduction in the buildings and grounds supply and repair budget, with an additional $173,000 in savings spread across nearly all other departmental supply budgets. The report comes as the district is one-third of the way through its fiscal year.

High school addition complete, district takes ownership

HURON, S.D. – Construction on the Huron High School addition is substantially complete, and the school district officially took ownership of the new space on Nov. 7, according to Business Manager Kelly Christopherson. The district is now working to furnish the area and determine its use before occupying it. Meanwhile, work continues on the middle school roof replacement. Christopherson also reported that the middle school’s main gym floor has finished drying after sustaining water damage and has reopened for use. The district is now in communication with the contractor’s insurance company regarding the damaged floor.

Board sets state legislative priorities for upcoming session

HURON, S.D. – The Board of Education finalized its positions on key legislative issues ahead of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota delegate assembly. The board reviewed proposed resolutions that will guide the district’s advocacy during the next legislative session. Key positions include opposing the use of public funds for private school choice programs, seeking new state funding sources for schools and supporting the suspension of teacher pay accountability requirements in years when the state does not provide the statutorily required funding increase. The resolutions cover a wide range of topics from local governance to school finance and unfunded mandates.

Key Club raises $1,200 for UNICEF, continues community service

HURON, S.D. – The Huron High School Key Club raised over $1,200 for the United Nations Children’s Fund through its Trick‑or‑Treat for UNICEF campaign, a student representative reported to the board. The student outlined the club’s extensive volunteer work, which includes building beds for children in need, participating in the backpack program and assisting with Meals on Wheels. The club, which averages about 80 student members, aims to foster community involvement with the hope that members will continue their service in organizations like Kiwanis after graduation.

District celebrates numerous student and staff achievements

HURON, S.D. – The Board of Education recognized a wide array of student and staff accomplishments during its “Celebration of Successes.” Among those honored were Academic All-State athletes, all-conference selections in dance, cheer, football and volleyball, and 13 different student groups that earned the South Dakota High School Activities Association Academic Achievement Team Award for maintaining a collective GPA of 3.0 or higher. The board also recognized Dru Strand, who was named the 11AA Coach of the Year by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association, and acknowledged several community donations, including over 1,000 pairs of socks from Shoe Sensation.

District pushes parental engagement through online portal

HURON, S.D. – Technology Coordinator Roger Ahlers encouraged parents to use the Infinite Campus online portal to monitor their children’s grades, attendance and progress. In a report to the board, Ahlers noted that over 225 parents have logged in since August. He highlighted a new feature that allows parents to reset their own passwords, streamlining access. During the discussion, the board inquired about the possibility of a future paperless option for report cards and other communications to save on postage and material costs, a move Ahlers said would require administrative consideration and ensuring all families, including non-English-speaking households, could be reached.

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