[{"_1":2,"_135":-5,"_136":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111,123],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6475944,"mediaKeyId","5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b","parentId",5731883,"title","Votes at a glance: Sioux Falls School District board actions","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",820000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b&start=820&end=820","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b/thumbnail_820000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475944/South-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-Sioux-Falls-School-District-board-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475944-8c6d0b30be1bbd6fe84e236d7512220e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771532033&Signature=FxAg5fn5xGT4JVWpwWM9Cwn1ebLtPgBV24Gx7eMwaQotxeh4J7tuY2~b-568jsiZckuCRJyRhPA0fHfq~k0GkugwTheLMJ8LmtafPsYmjr2FA2YoKqfbJJiIThRR4EAGjUQ3qy5aNz~Brn0DJP7iguOZadDDcYYYgmqcoJ0f8zTEKHVkQ8IdbkhUvaCP~B7DYIMVSruRRZlSYKAm8CvEWrPW8IQQr1eom-7AiT0cMi6JoptpJChNlYbcdqTyyhdeaUJoDvQc8adFlWr6Y2D7QIBoqOLZMsid8-taDQw3leQueITXRyZagMCGwdUrzmjOi0ZaKVr3FwlvrSqovABGwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sioux Falls School District","date","2025-09-03T22:04:01Z","article","The Sioux Falls School District Board of Education took the following procedural and acknowledgement actions during the meeting. All votes reported in the transcript were recorded as voice votes; individual roll‑call tallies were not recorded.

- Approval of meeting minutes for Aug. 25, 2025 and Sept. 3, 2025: Motion to approve carried by voice vote (mover/second not specified in transcript).
- Approval of the meeting agenda for the evening: Motion carried by voice vote (mover/second not specified).
- Approval of the consent agenda items A through E: Motion carried by voice vote (mover/second not specified).
- Acknowledge UFLI reading pilot report: Motion carried by voice vote (mover/second not specified). See related article on the UFLI pilot for details.
- Acknowledge fall 2025 initial enrollment report: Motion carried by voice vote (mover/second not specified). See related article on enrollment for details.
- Acknowledge FY25 budget wrap-up report: Motion carried by voice vote (mover/second not specified). See related article on FY25 budget wrap-up for details.
- Motion to adjourn: Carried by voice vote.

The meeting transcript did not provide named movers/seconders or a recorded roll-call tally for these motions; the minutes should record the same procedural outcomes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting 9-8-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved agenda, minutes, consent items and acknowledged three reports (UFLI pilot, initial enrollment, FY25 budget wrap-up); all actions were recorded as voice votes with no roll-call tallies in the transcript.","taxTitle","Sioux Falls School District 49-5, School Districts, South Dakota","taxId",12940,"location","South Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475949,"Public commenters question athletic spending and call for propaganda lessons, release of Sanford study",487,869000,1356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b&start=869&end=1356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b/thumbnail_869000.jpg","/articles/6475949/South-Dakota/Public-commenters-question-athletic-spending-and-call-for-propaganda-lessons-release-of-Sanford-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475949-ed9f29612c2c7ee0eb3a593b451a5a9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771532033&Signature=bn2-rZeSfpRPfMX3sQ6GqLXxUVFepdaieel5PEZA-z8y60R6FTwCnzOJRA2bmx0cf-bi5oMB6MIBuqh-nb0I61MZwyfXAUe2DUulgrleVPLLNfONygNOZ2uqiDFI8IQtcG6ZJKCAOK-5iGFtLLu1ynB-YB2C8qqUZgmSrB806ctwVQgwNEP2EYKx2xjqFOwn2Ok7v-6rSYh0Boi1Qrv7lFIclphmI5y~rTHjKYwqaTfeYWXyGV1R~ZYPNud3vmG4ISwNcBbFO2yOS~KR9Z2wBJOxwOmpmewW2MEPtqmDkqWyq5JoAQnUQR754fTGKwz4YZRBxqgycAFuXKeMfmib2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two members of the public used the meeting’s non‑agenda public‑comment period to press the Sioux Falls School District Board on funding priorities and curricular content.

John Cunningham, who identified himself as living at 4904 South Oxbow and said he holds a master’s degree in public finance, urged the board to prioritize academic funding over nonacademic programs. Cunningham singled out high school bowling as an example of extracurricular spending he said may total \"a couple of $200,000,\" and he warned that to fund such activities the district may be reducing funds available for teacher pay, which contributes to turnover.

\"You don't have unlimited fiscal resources,\" Cunningham said. \"I believe the general public would expect academic funding to be fully funded before nonacademic [programs].\" He encouraged the board to consider opportunity costs when making budget decisions.

Chad Bishop, who spoke second, called on the district to require George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World for juniors and seniors and to add lesson plans examining propaganda techniques. Bishop urged lessons on historical U.S. episodes, including the Church Committee hearings, and criticized what he described as selective media coverage of a high‑profile Sanford Health personnel event. He referred to a study he called the ‘‘SURVIVE’’ (also referenced as \"SURVISE\" in his remarks) seroprevalence study and asked why data from that study had not been publicly released; he also offered to volunteer to assist district staff in populating nutrition product UPCs and added-sugar fields in the district’s meal‑viewer platform.

Board members did not take action during public comment. The board’s meeting packet and staff responses were not included in the transcript; the requests were recorded in the public‑comment portion of the meeting.","Two public commenters urged board attention to budget priorities and curriculum content: one asked the district to prioritize academic funding over extracurricular costs, the other asked for required reading and curriculum on propaganda and raised concerns about a Sanford Health study and nutrition data reporting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475952,"Superintendent outlines plan to gather student and staff feedback, invite lawmakers into classrooms",262,578000,840000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b&start=578&end=840","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b/thumbnail_578000.jpg","/articles/6475952/South-Dakota/Superintendent-outlines-plan-to-gather-student-and-staff-feedback-invite-lawmakers-into-classrooms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475952-78651be5de0affc92bbf392d5adfd636/orig.mp4?Expires=1771532033&Signature=bewugilPw-Cioxuxkavs-~i0FdFeU68EQ073VCCIULI8laUtOOyJDRBEmqZ44UfPrSo540-tAUtfXuSwMvaGmXRvgMbgwHhuY3p~HArhKA0P2BsJvCM1dHz34K094c9Fd3PCoiOBiRIeAZj5MD5YVX0qe2SLkT7mrcuMrd2v4r5RFwlRrZD0hmOigY9Mdv2YVA~gKpyl9wWboahZle3nQUnpr1uI2LREIpiMkc5kSb6o0U4WYYbbCv7LRAhJeouQWxPXJ3pZce1g6M4QvjaAntfoREEMSwPuSBjaH6HaY8Wg5ADWZIOEHtE~kOJaWFAixEhfOQlQpGUb0oUR3gwlww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Michael Nold told the Sioux Falls School District Board that district leadership plans a fall outreach to gather student and staff feedback to inform budget and facilities planning.

Nold said staff will convene grade‑level teacher discussion groups using a CAFE model to solicit priorities related to budget tradeoffs — for example, class size, educational assistants, specials and other classroom resources. He said the district will hold sessions with roughly 50 elementary teachers per cohort, 25–30 middle school teachers and 30–35 high school teachers, with much of that work scheduled for October and November.

On the student side, Nold said district staff will meet with student councils at each high school and ask a structured set of questions developed with district leaders to surface priorities, including use of CTE programs and senior‑year project opportunities. He said the district plans quarterly meetings at high schools and may expand to middle schools later.

Nold also said the district will invite legislative representatives into schools to help them see classroom instruction firsthand. He emphasized that the process is intended to centralize—rather than duplicate—feedback collection so that teacher and student voices are available before budget decisions are finalized.

The board accepted the superintendent’s update as a report; no formal action beyond acknowledgement was recorded.","Superintendent Dr. Michael Nold described a fall plan to gather structured input from teachers and student councils to inform budget and facility planning; the board heard timing and format details but took no formal vote.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475956,"Sioux Falls closes FY25 with small positive fund variances; staff to seek efficiencies",811,3629000,4440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b&start=3629&end=4440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b/thumbnail_3629000.jpg","/articles/6475956/South-Dakota/Sioux-Falls-closes-FY25-with-small-positive-fund-variances-staff-to-seek-efficiencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475956-29829168ed6da4cf3c7eb21a10b33562/orig.mp4?Expires=1771532033&Signature=XGsTAqG2-6QEa263xkz5KKnueB9GHu~VTahLakSmJZiGSEibScHRQSHHbFj1npKQsUhkg6daJhiBSikwEebuHkc56FSox7me1y8m1FKLkNPVQarHT53Mg1GVE9474lqyEtwMKFKO8KvFdYXqtNEjqMwFdcqwbDwQto6KAAJeuDqHTTlmrv8hffdsphVHEDjROpUQqlq7MwDSFaKDH0ACttGdCO3UPYDF~9E7X24o5WeKhQKEWRi~azc8uY7Hr6kGryKSRbK2hQa~FPYVPXTKSDvavzoMd2l88F4-HklmNNOcGaYP0e~bX~10U4Zs2Atso25phokaH11SH~MGrEc7ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Finance staff told the Sioux Falls School District Board on Tuesday that the district closed fiscal year 2025 with modest positive variances and maintained fund balance targets while facing the end of one-time federal COVID-era funds.

Mister Beek, the district finance presenter, said tax‑supported fund revenues came in at about 99 percent of budget while general fund expenditures were about 96 percent of budget. He reported the district ended the year with an unobligated general fund balance of 11.8 percent, above the previously projected 10.1 percent. Capital outlay and special education fund balances were also reported as healthy.

Beek described several drivers of the variance: lower-than-budgeted operational services spending due in part to mild winter weather, curriculum spending that was reserved for future implementation, salary and benefit variances from unfilled positions and long-term substitutes, and timing differences that reduced required internal transfers.

On compensation, Beek said average teacher salary and average total teacher compensation both rose about 4 percent year over year. He noted the district’s average teacher salary exceeded the state’s target teacher salary by roughly 1 percentage point and that average total compensation was above the state target; the district remained within the statutory tolerance (greater than 97 percent of the state target) that avoids state aid penalties.

Board members asked what priorities staff should consider for the coming budget cycle. Beek and Superintendent Dr. Nold said staff will solicit teacher and staff input this fall as part of budget guideline development, and they reiterated that salaries and benefits remain the largest portion of the general fund budget.

The board acknowledged the FY25 budget wrap-up report by motion; the meeting record shows the motion carried on voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript.","Finance staff reported the FY25 wrap-up: general fund revenues nearly met budget, expenditures underspent, unobligated general fund balance rose to 11.8%; board acknowledged the wrap-up and discussed priorities for next year's budgeting.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475961,"Sioux Falls initial fall enrollment shows slight decline; junior kindergarten up",854,2552000,3406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b&start=2552&end=3406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b/thumbnail_2552000.jpg","/articles/6475961/South-Dakota/Sioux-Falls-initial-fall-enrollment-shows-slight-decline-junior-kindergarten-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475961-aad5118cbff111cee7d883f9050bb64e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771532033&Signature=khYJqdYBOMJW-ZYBAT~Qk9Wa5g2H-KUMbe32lqGOkbDQf7CblhiAPNbuZEiqkbOznaqQXTS5dFcPpNBL0u7SC7mFYsi9~xMjtoBQ5F9nh~BeGUmtHqXhZQdA~JEk2tgUyQtkr3m6~hhHCMNb3iWseROgT8mFwEi0uVX2d4bUJohgCtFt84apTiw8gO-EkiadYlz3yQPLXiPmI2uEcLWQ0bOUGU7ANw5JKBjPNCRpuQBTdQ6wM2GwmaV1mV8perEiyRHp0O~3dwLT8WFlXM9mNt3lFu~Ie43WrK4UjEPcCrGdABGiAD~k92gxcyekPuy1u761dhx2gvbIX9ePncB8jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sioux Falls School District on Tuesday reported preliminary fall 2025 enrollment figures that district staff said will inform budget planning but are not yet final for state funding.

Doug Morrison, the district’s director of data services, told the Board of Education the initial count at the end of the fourth business day of school was 224,290 full‑time equivalent (FTE) students, 86 fewer than the same point last year. He said kindergarten enrollment stood at 1,731 — 46 fewer than the prior year at the same checkpoint — while junior kindergarten enrollment rose to 79, an increase of 38.

Morrison described the report as a day‑4 snapshot that traditionally moves as families enroll, transfer or do not show up in the first weeks. He said the district was monitoring about 177 students who had not attended school by day 4; state reconciliation rules require the district to wait until students miss 15 consecutive days before removing them from the active roster for state reporting.

Staff noted that structural changes, including boundary shifts tied to the new Marcel Labeaux school and the closure of the elementary immersion program, drove some localized declines. Morrison said Marcel Labeaux opened with a preliminary enrollment of about 284 students and absorbed students from Hawthorne, Rhenberg and Hayward.

Board members asked about cohort trends and the role of birth rates in projecting kindergarten cohorts years in advance. A board member identified as Todd (district staff) said longer-term birth-rate declines have contributed to smaller incoming kindergarten classes over several years, though there was a localized recent uptick in some months.

Morrison said the district will submit final counts to the state on September 26 for reconciliation and expects to return to the board with a final enrollment report on Oct. 27. The board acknowledged the initial enrollment report by motion and voice vote; the transcript did not record a roll-call tally.

Staff cautioned that open enrollment continues year-round, and the day‑4 snapshot typically declines modestly before the final state count.","District data showed a preliminary fall enrollment of 224,290 FTE (down 86 from last year at the same point), kindergarten down, junior kindergarten up; board acknowledged the initial report and staff warned final counts and funding reconciliation remain pending.",{"_33":124,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":125,"_41":126,"_43":127,"_45":128,"_46":129,"_48":130,"_50":131,"_52":132,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":133,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":134,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6475965,"Sioux Falls reports strong early gains from UFLI reading pilot in kindergarten",530,1538000,2068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b&start=1538&end=2068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5731883-2417fb43de2d61830ca00fba463c7f5b/thumbnail_1538000.jpg","/articles/6475965/South-Dakota/Sioux-Falls-reports-strong-early-gains-from-UFLI-reading-pilot-in-kindergarten","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475965-f94e73fc76060ca206f91817142fd4c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771532033&Signature=U2JDRyoX4IsiYuaDmNR6NcEBRGpvbgjMdtGNqiTGK6UY-l5wm0d6LU6Lpbv7ee5AAePxsjV6YdKw-hLnZpkh9UCTRv38pJ1iKF4y8UHur2TeBOGq5L9UOeb7hoodKTuvtTRHwDVGC1G8wEA3dcUctlbOqOrtUTF7W94Tz73XUCC4Ug8vmUByFrplyI7yNg~YDnrqu0MWPfD~mjoY9PkR4JjCBi~bUf3GhAlyRi2-TgKyyUEzKLu4I7Cnpjj6soDXcXYJ4q-0dzjgSNR4UMvhhXt6VkCuY8FBePu8iD1cUbJ3iI4hYZzQDD1DcNrO6gDFDx1Kd4sUb7ZrEIKB3kN6zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sioux Falls School District on Tuesday presented early evidence that a piloted literacy curriculum, the University of Florida Literacy Institute Foundations program (UFLI), produced substantial reading gains for participating kindergarten students.

District elementary curriculum coordinator Linda McDaniel told the Board of Education that results from five pilot schools showed 69 percent of pilot students meeting or exceeding benchmark on an external literacy assessment, versus 40 percent at two control schools. McDaniel said district assessments also showed pilot students outperforming peers on the district’s MAP reading fluency measures.

McDaniel framed UFLI as a research-based, systematic core reading program for kindergarten through second grade that relies on explicit scope-and-sequence instruction, decodable texts and ongoing professional learning. She said UFLI’s primary cost is professional development and coach time rather than high recurring materials costs.

\"Teachers are seeing students grow in confidence as readers and writers,\" McDaniel said, and she credited elementary instructional coaches Abby Dawson and Sarah Hutchinson for frequent in-class support and coaching cycles.

Board members asked about rollout timing and scope. McDaniel and Superintendent Dr. Michael Nold (referred to in the meeting as Doctor Nold) said the program is currently focused on K–2 as a core curriculum and can be used in grades 3–5 for targeted interventions. The presenters said the district expanded training after positive kindergarten feedback and intends to scale implementation annually rather than all at once so coaches can support teachers effectively.

Board discussion emphasized the long-term stakes of early literacy. A board member said the district’s aim is to secure strong foundational skills by third grade; another asked whether an analogous program exists for math, and staff said the district is beginning a math study to identify evidence-based options.

The board then moved to formally acknowledge the UFLI pilot report; the motion carried on a voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded.

District materials presented to the board reported an 81 percent rate of kindergarten students at or above grade-level benchmarks in phonemic awareness and phonics/word recognition on the district’s spring reading-fluency assessment for the 2024–25 pilot cohort. McDaniel said the pilot’s external benchmark comparison used Acadience and internal MAP reading-fluency data to triangulate results.

The board thanked teachers and coaches and acknowledged the item for the record. Staff said the district will continue professional learning and expand UFLI implementation in subsequent years, with ongoing measurement of cohort outcomes.","District officials said preliminary data from the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) pilot shows kindergarten students in pilot schools outperforming control sites on early reading measures; board formally acknowledged the update by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Sioux Falls School District board actions

Public commenters question athletic spending and call for propaganda lessons, release of Sanford study

Superintendent outlines plan to gather student and staff feedback, invite lawmakers into classrooms

Sioux Falls closes FY25 with small positive fund variances; staff to seek efficiencies

Sioux Falls initial fall enrollment shows slight decline; junior kindergarten up

Sioux Falls reports strong early gains from UFLI reading pilot in kindergarten