School board breaks ground on high school expansion project

The Tea Area School Board met April 18 with a special meeting for the groundbreaking of the high school expansion project.

Following the groundbreaking, the board returned to the District Education Center for their regular business meeting.

The board tabled the five-year capital outlay plan until the May meeting.

They approved the resignations of Brent Johnson as high school throws track and field coach, Janice Gilbert as assistant softball coach, Kathy Ward as special education paraprofessional, Jason Sudenga as head boys golf coach, Clay Robinson as assistant boys golf coach, Kieresten Lovan as fourth grade Venture Elementary teacher, Laura Nettifee as first grade Frontier Elementary teacher, MaRena Dybdahl as second grade Legacy Elementary teacher, Robin Hollinger as middle school science teacher, Sarah Spilde as middle school life skills teacher, Travis Ehrisman as high school science teacher, Elizabeth Rhead as Venture Elementary fourth grade teacher and Gina Coley as high school life skills special education teacher.

The board approved the new hires of Olivia Esslinger as continuous school improvement middle level coach, Wade Begeman as middle school social studies teacher, Taryn Helgeson as middle school oral interp, Olivia Esslinger as eighth grade assistant volleyball coach, Elizabeth “Ellie” Whitehead as middle school music, Wade Begeman as eighth grade assistant football coach, Jasmina Kaukovic as high school custodian, Taraina Brough as Ready to Start paraprofessional, Allison Trapp as Frontier Elementary kindergarten, Riley Peters as Frontier Elementary first grade teacher, Elizabeth Kirschenman as Frontier Elementary first grade teacher, Brenna Herting for elementary, David DeRoos as Venture/Frontier Elementary music, Riley Peters as seventh grade assistant volleyball coach and Lindsey Meikle as elementary teacher.

Superintendent Jennifer Lowery noted the transfers of Mallorie Heidinger from fifth grade to second grade at Legacy Elementary and Chelsea Leslie from third grade to fourth grade at Venture Elementary.

The board approved the resolution to SDHSAA membership resolution to be a member of the South Dakota High School Activities Association for the next school year.

They approved the Chromebook Handbook and Activities Handbook with no changes. They also approved the Elementary Handbook with language that updates the goals to align with the strategic plan, changing School Reach to communication system and updating some personnel titles.

Operations manager Wayne Larsen updated the board on construction projects around the district. The stick buildings by the high school are starting to get moved. Pre-construction meetings for dirt and concrete were planned for this week with hopes of starting to dig at the high school next week.

Legacy Elementary will have the HVAC replaced in the building over the summer. They will also be looking at resurfacing the track after school is out and be done before Aug. 14.

Larsen also noted that the high school gym floor has about 80 percent of the old floor removed and about 50 percent of the subfloor down. They were able to salvage the center logo that he hopes they will be able to put up in the athletic hallway.

The board adjourned at 7 p.m.