Brandon Valley board approves routine finances, construction payment and authorizes findings in employee complaint

The Brandon Valley School District 49-2 Board of Education on Feb. 26 approved routine minutes and financial items, including a payment to Pesca Construction tied to a capital project, accepted its monthly cash report that showed higher-than-expected state aid tied to enrollment growth, and authorized the board chair to sign findings and notify parties in a complaint against a school employee after an executive session.

The board voted to approve regular meeting minutes for Jan. 13 and Jan. 27 and minutes of a special meeting on Jan. 7. It then approved bills and claims totaling $1,811,773, including payment number five to Pesca Construction for $1,145,000, bringing Pesca’s total paid-to-date to $4,200,000 on a $23,000,000 project. The board approved associated advanced payments of $7,546 and pay vouchers presented at the meeting; food service bills listed totaled $189,170.

Superintendent Larson highlighted construction and operational projects in administrative reports, including the elementary school construction site and a transportation facility office project. Larson said images and progress photos are available on the district’s project website and noted that the new elementary building is scheduled to open in fall 2026. Larson also said the district is tracking the state legislative session and referenced the Associated School Boards resources and the Legislative Research Council as places the public can follow developments. He noted Feb. 26 as “Brandon Day” at the legislature, with about 30 students participating.

On finances, the board heard the cash report for January showing $35,765,000 carried into the month, $3,261,000 in receipts and $5,747,000 in expenses, leaving $33,279,000 on hand. The superintendent and staff reported $7.8 million in the general fund, about $2.5 million in the capital fund, just under $1 million in the special education fund, $86,000 in the enterprise fund and $21.8 million in the project fund. The investment report noted $29,412,000. Payroll for January was about $2.7 million.

District staff told the board that general fund revenues are tracking above last year (51.11% versus 49% at the same point last year) and that state aid was higher than budgeted because enrollment exceeded projections by roughly 55 students, producing approximately $400,000 in additional state aid. On enrollment monitoring, the board discussed procedures for counting students added or withdrawn after the official count date and said administrators review those changes before presenting staffing requests. Summing up the district’s approach to kindergarten registration, Larson said, “kindergarten enrollment is the straw that stirs the drink.”

The board approved the financial report as presented and also approved general business items 1–3 and personnel items 1–16; items 17 and 18 were listed for review only. The board recognized School Board Recognition Week in February and congratulated the high school one-act troupe on a superior rating.

The meeting included an executive session under South Dakota Codified Law §1-25-2.3. Following the executive session the board voted to “approve and authorize the board chair to sign the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decision related to a complaint against a school employee, and to give notice to all the parties.” The motion was seconded and carried in a roll call vote with board members Saxton, Scott, Bell and Tom recorded as voting yes; the chair directed the board chair to sign and notify parties as authorized.

No contentious or highly detailed debate on policy changes or large new spending commitments was recorded at the meeting. Several items noted—ongoing construction schedules, legislative monitoring and negotiated contract timelines—were described as matters the administration and board will revisit as more information becomes available.