Board approves water-main agreement for Dickinson High rebuild, construction bids, staffing changes and union recognition

The Dickinson Public School Board approved a series of motions on construction, staffing and administrative matters at its meeting.

Key construction and facilities actions included approving a development agreement with the City of Dickinson for a water-main extension tied to the Dickinson High School rebuild and awarding the Hart River Elementary Exterior Improvements base bid and alternate No. 1 on the recommendation of GT Architecture. Board members said the water-main work will improve fire-flow and allow hydrant placement along a loop between Fairway and Empire; the city's staff member Josh was in the meeting and was credited with helping write a grant application to offset local costs. The board approved the water-main development agreement by voice vote; Vice President Schwartz moved the motion and it was seconded (the motion carried on a voice vote).

GT Architecture's recommendation to award the Hart River Elementary Exterior Improvements base bid and alternate No. 1 to "two's construction" was approved by roll-call vote after a motion from Vice President Schwartz and a second from Mister Wilkie. The board recorded ayes during the roll call (Mr. Wertakowski, Mr. Seeks, Mr. Wilkie, Vice President Schwartz and the chair) and carried the motion.

The board also received a brief update on the Dickinson High School rebuild project. Superintendent Doctor Luton said a sidewalk had been installed to route students between the main campus and the yellow building during construction, fence installation would begin the following week and demolition of some structures was expected by the end of the month or the beginning of next month. The presentation included phase outlines and photos of planned fencing and demolition sequencing.

On staffing and program matters, the board approved hiring one additional Family and Consumer Science certified position at the Southwest Area Career and Technical Education Academy for the 2025-26 school year to meet registration demand in areas including culinary arts. Mister Seeks moved the hiring; Vice President Schwartz seconded and the motion carried.

Enrollment actions: the board voted to continue closing open enrollment for grades K–12 (implemented in fall 2024) with the exception of K–5 Roughrider Virtual Academies. Vice President Schwartz moved the continuation and Mr. Wilkie seconded; the motion carried on voice vote. The board approved a set of open-enrollment applications (children of Holly Cobash; William Harpole; Bridal Hendricks; Angela Mackey; and Lindsay Holzenegger) after a motion by Vice President Schwartz and a second with a name correction from Mister Wilkie. The board also approved dissolving open-enrollment approvals for children of Caitlin McAuwing and Ashley Duncan after a motion from Mister Seeks and a second from Vice President Schwartz.

Personnel and governance actions included acceptance of the superintendent's summative evaluation (board members rated the superintendent satisfactory across six performance areas), approval of early resignation incentives for a list of certificated and paraprofessional employees with effective dates in May 2025, recognition of the Dickinson Education Association as the representative organization for teachers for at least one year beginning March 10, 2025, recognition of the Dickinson Administrative Council as the representative organization for administrators for at least one year beginning March 10, 2025, and final adoption of revisions to policy ACE (Violence and Threatening Behavior). Those motions were moved and seconded as recorded in the meeting; several actions were decided by roll-call votes and others by voice votes, with all motions carried.

Votes at a glance

- Approve development agreement with the City of Dickinson for water-main extension (DHS rebuild). Mover: Vice President Schwartz. Second: recorded as seconded. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Key detail: city staffer Josh assisted grant-writing; work will add hydrants and create a loop between Fairway and Empire.

- Award Hart River Elementary Exterior Improvements (Base Bid + Alt. 1) to two's construction per GT Architecture recommendation. Mover: Vice President Schwartz. Second: Mister Wilkie. Outcome: approved (roll-call). Recorded ayes included Mr. Wertakowski, Mr. Seeks, Mr. Wilkie, Vice President Schwartz and the chair.

- Approve 1 additional Family & Consumer Science certified position at Southwest Area CTE Academy for 2025-26. Mover: Mister Seeks. Second: Vice President Schwartz. Outcome: approved (roll-call/voice as recorded).

- Continue closed open-enrollment for grades K–12 (except K–5 Roughrider Virtual Academies). Mover: Vice President Schwartz. Second: Mr. Wilkie. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Approve listed open-enrollment applications (children of Holly Cobash; William Harpole; Bridal Hendricks; Angela Mackey; Lindsay Holzenegger) per open-enrollment policy. Mover: Vice President Schwartz. Second: Mister Wilkie (correction noted). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Dissolve open-enrollment approvals for children of Caitlin McAuwing and Ashley Duncan. Mover: Mister Seeks. Second: Vice President Schwartz. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Accept superintendent summative evaluation (satisfactory in six performance areas). Mover: Vice President Schwartz. Second: Mister Seeks. Outcome: approved (roll-call; recorded ayes by multiple members).

- Approve early resignation incentives for a list of certificated and paraprofessional staff with effective dates in May 2025. Mover: Vice President Schwartz. Second: Mister Wilkie. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Recognize Dickinson Education Association as representative organization for teachers for at least one year beginning 03/10/2025. Mover: Vice President (recorded). Second: Mister Wilkie. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Recognize Dickinson Administrative Council as representative organization for administrators for at least one year beginning 03/10/2025. Mover: Mister Seeks. Second: Vice President Schwartz. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Adopt revisions to policy ACE (Violence and Threatening Behavior) on second reading and final adoption. Mover: Mister Wilkins. Second: Vice President Schwartz. Outcome: approved (roll-call; recorded ayes by members present).

Board discussion and context

Board members asked brief clarifying questions on several items. On the water-main agreement board members said the work is for fire safety and to support the DHS rebuild; Josh from the city was present to answer grant-related queries. The Hart River bid award followed GT Architecture's recommendation; the board did not debate the award. On personnel items, board members acknowledged the staffing and resignations and recorded the effective dates included in the motions. Several items were routine confirmations that the board approved without extended discussion.

What the board did not decide: no new policy changes beyond the ACE revision were proposed; no funding reallocations were made other than actions tied to previously authorized bond proceeds and construction management activities.

The board adjourned after public participation was noted as none for the meeting.