Brookings board approves esports sponsorship, donations and resolution opposing vouchers; tables counseling MOU

At a Brookings School District 05-1 board meeting, trustees approved multiple consent and business items including donated materials, a negotiations protocol, a naming and marketing advertising agreement for the high school esports program, and a resolution opposing proposed school voucher legislation. The board tabled a memorandum of understanding with Rising Hope Counseling for further review.

Key outcomes

- Donations approved: The board accepted donated funds and items to several buildings, including contributions from the DFW auxiliary to Madera, Camelot, Hillcrest and Dakota Prairie; the Bobcat Boosters to Camelot; and the Brookings Basketball Association to the girls' basketball team. The board chair called the donations "always appreciated." The motion to approve donations passed.

- Negotiations protocol approved: Trustees voted to approve the negotiations protocol the district has used previously; the motion passed.

- Swiftel naming and marketing advertising agreement approved for esports: The board voted to approve a naming and marketing agreement tied to the district's newly elevated high school esports program. One trustee asked for a future presentation on the esports program; the board chair said the signage size was "reasonable" after staff follow-up. The motion passed.

- Resolution in opposition to proposed school voucher program approved: The board voted to support a resolution drafted by the Associated School Boards opposing the use of public funds for private-school voucher accounts. Superintendent Dr. Schultz discussed state funding trends and expressed concern about how an expanded voucher program would be funded. "Without additional revenue, how will we fund a secondary system of education in South Dakota without significantly impacting potentially cities, counties, schools," Dr. Schultz said.

- Memorandum of understanding with Rising Hope Counseling tabled: A motion to approve an MOU allowing Rising Hope Counseling to provide on-site counseling at Camelot Intermediate School was moved and seconded, but at least one trustee requested legal review and more information about other providers. The board voted to table the MOU until a subsequent meeting.

- Executive sessions: The board moved into executive session twice under SDCL 1-25-2 (subsections 1 and 4); the first session produced no action items and the second session was entered later in the meeting. Trustees indicated there might be action after the executive session but none was reported during public minutes.

Why it matters: The resolution opposing vouchers signals the district's formal stance as state legislation is introduced; the Swiftel agreement reflects growing investment in extracurricular esports and brings private naming/marketing support into a district facility. The MOU tabling shows trustees seeking routine legal review before finalizing agreements that place external providers in district buildings.

What the board said: Dr. Schultz framed the voucher discussion around district funding and the state cost-of-living adjustment, noting that the governor's proposed increase was below the current CPI-based expectation and that initial voucher proposals would require millions in new funding. "It is 4,000,000 to start," she said, stressing uncertainty about where additional revenue would come from.

Next steps: The MOU with Rising Hope Counseling will return for board consideration after additional information and legal review. Trustees indicated they expect presentations on esports and calendar/negotiations topics at upcoming work sessions.