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Rapid City Area School Board approves policies, agreements and legislative stances; calendar change fails
Summary
At its regular meeting the board approved a first reading of policies and multiple agreements, adopted legislative positions and carried routine consent items; a proposed change to the 2025–26 staff and student learning calendars failed on a 1–6 roll call.
The Rapid City Area School Board on Feb. 4 approved a first reading of district policies and procedures, authorized several district agreements and adopted a set of legislative positions, while rejecting a proposed revision to the 2025–26 staff and student learning calendars.
Board actions included a voice vote approving the district's policies and procedures at first reading and a separate voice vote approving proposed agreements. The board approved the consent agenda, except for three pulled items (referred to as November, Oscar and Papa during the meeting), by voice vote after a motion to adopt the consent package minus those items.
On the district's legislative positions, the board voted to adopt the positions that staff had prepared for the 2025 session; discussion at the meeting ranged from the process for filling blanks in the draft position paper to specific concerns about individual bills. The board approved the positions by voice vote after discussion.
A separately moved proposal to revise the 2025'26 staff and student learning calendars—advanced by district administration as a student-centered adjustment—failed on a roll-call vote. The roll call on the calendar amendment recorded Troy Carr: No; Jamie Clapham: No; Christine Stephenson: Yes; Donna Moore: No; Michael Berkland: No; Walt Swan: No; Katie Urban: No. The motion therefore failed 1–6; the previously approved 2025'26 calendar will remain in effect.
Several motions in the meeting were moved and seconded without roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript; in those cases the board used voice votes and the motions were announced as carried.
Board President Troy Carr handled parliamentary procedure throughout the meeting. Superintendent (acting) Dr. Corey Strasser and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Sasse participated in several discussion items that produced motions.
The board paused for a short recess midway through its meeting and returned to continue with committee reports and informational items.
Votes listed in the board record: approve policies and procedures (first reading) — approved (voice vote); approve proposed agreements — approved (voice vote); approve consent agenda except items November, Oscar and Papa — approved (voice vote); approve legislative positions — approved (voice vote); approve change to 2025'26 staff and student learning calendars — failed (roll-call 1 yes, 6 no).
