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Board approves policies and agreements; rejects proposed 2025-26 calendar
Summary
At its Feb. 4 meeting the Rapid City Area School Board approved policy updates, several agreements and its legislative positions, and approved the consent agenda. The board voted down a proposed change to the 2025-26 staff and student learning calendars after public comment and board debate.
Rapid City Area School Board members approved a set of district policies and agreements and adopted a legislative positions packet during their Feb. 4 regular meeting, but rejected a proposed change to the 2025-26 staff and student learning calendars.
The board voted, by voice or unanimous consent, to place on file the first reading of updated Rapid City Area Schools policies and procedures and to approve a set of proposed agreements and the consent agenda (with three items pulled for separate discussion). The board also approved a written set of legislative positions intended to guide district advocacy during the current state legislative session.
Why it matters: The calendar vote will determine school start and end dates and affects families, staff planning, AP testing timing and holiday breaks; the policies and legislative positions will guide the district’s formal stance on bills and internal procedures.
The board used a roll-call on the calendar proposal. The motion to adopt the revised 2025-26 staff and student learning calendars failed on a 1-6 roll call: only Board Member Christine Stephenson voted yes; Troy Carr, Jamie Clapham, Donna Moore, Michael Berkland, Walt Swan and Katie Urban voted no. Board members who supported keeping the previously adopted calendar cited community plans and short notice for a change; supporters of the revision cited student-centered scheduling and instructional benefits.
Other actions taken during the meeting included unanimous approval of the consent agenda (except for pulled items), approval of proposed agreements, and approval of the policies and procedures first reading. The board also formally approved a packet of legislative positions the administration had prepared for the session.
Board President Troy Carr presided; several motions were moved and seconded on the floor and passed by voice vote. The board convened an executive session at the end of the evening as permitted under state law.
