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Yankton School Board adopts 2025–26 budget, approves Mount Marty student‑teaching agreement and several policies
Summary
At its regular meeting, the Yankton School District board approved the 2025–26 budget (taking half of the district opt‑out), a five‑year capital plan, a tax levy request and a 4+1 student‑teaching agreement with Mount Marty University. The board also approved two district policies and several routine consent items.
The Yankton School District 63‑3 Board of Education voted to adopt the district’s 2025–26 budget, approve a five‑year capital outlay plan and authorize a tax levy request, and unanimously approved a 4+1 student‑teaching agreement with Mount Marty University during its regular meeting.
Board members also approved two policies and the consent agenda, including a procurement under the Sourcewell cooperative for a high‑school generator.
The budget the board adopted on a roll‑call vote reflects the board’s decision to take half of the district’s authorized opt‑out levy for the 2025–26 tax year. District finance staff explained the split because local property tax bills use a calendar year while the district operates on a July–June fiscal year, meaning taxpayers will see half of the opt‑out reflected in the 2026 payable taxes.
Shireen, district finance staff, told the board, “we will take half the opt out,” and walked members through a chart explaining how the district’s fiscal year and taxpayer calendar year interact.
The board approved a five‑year capital outlay plan that includes projects such as bleacher replacement, a roof project at the high school and work on the middle‑school floor. Facilities staff said some projects were moved into this fiscal year as schedules and materials allowed. The capital outlay plan vote passed on a roll call.
On personnel and program approvals, the board voted to approve a 4+1 student‑teaching model agreement with Mount Marty University. Under the arrangement, Mount Marty student teachers will spend four days student‑teaching and one consistent day each week serving as a paid substitute. Dr. Jennifer Weber, department chair of teacher education at Mount Marty University, said the program “we see this as a win win for us and for you” and noted the state created a student‑teaching permit to allow payment of student teachers under recent legislation. The board approved the agreement by roll call; Mount Marty expects five student teachers in Yankton this fall and about two in the spring.
Board members approved two policy items that had been on the agenda: proposed elementary school boundary changes related to the Webster closure and a single/multi‑occupancy room privacy policy. The board held a first reading of an updated Acceptable Use Policy (technical changes and a statutory citation update) and discussed revisions to the public‑comment policy; the public‑comment policy will return to the board for a future vote.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve the 4+1 student‑teaching model agreement with Mount Marty University — approved (roll call: Grant: yes; Frick: yes; Shield: yes; Greenway: yes). Outcome: approved.
- Motion to adopt the 2025–26 school district budget (per recommended action) — approved (roll call indicated unanimous yes votes). Outcome: approved.
- Motion to approve the five‑year capital outlay plan for 2026 onward — approved (roll call: Brent: yes; Shield: yes; Frick: yes; Greenway: yes). Outcome: approved.
- Motion to approve the tax levy request (September submission per state timelines) — approved (roll call: Shield: yes; Bridal: yes; Grant: yes; Greenway: yes). Outcome: approved.
- Motion to approve elementary boundary changes (policy A) — approved (roll call: Shield: yes; Frick: yes; Grant: yes; Greenway: yes). Outcome: approved.
- Motion to approve the single/multi‑occupancy room privacy policy — approved (roll call: Brant: yes; Frick: yes; Shield: yes; Greenway: yes). Outcome: approved.
- Motion to approve the consent agenda (including Sourcewell procurement for a generator) — approved (roll call: Grama: yes; Frick: yes; Shield: yes; Greenway: yes). Outcome: approved.
Board materials and staff commentaries noted the district will post the full, multi‑page five‑year capital plan for public review. District finance staff said state figures for some levy components are estimates at the time of the September submission and will be updated when the state releases final numbers.
The meeting concluded with a facilities progress update and routine adjournment.
