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Board approves master agreement, multiple contracts and policy revisions; votes on SDHSAA measures pass
Summary
The Brookings School District 05-1 board approved a negotiated 2026–27 master agreement (including a 2.5% teacher raise), multiple contracts and a series of policy changes, and cast district votes on three SDHSAA ballot items during its May meeting.
The Brookings School District 05-1 board used its May meeting to ratify a range of formal actions, including a negotiated master agreement with the BEA, several contracts and policy revisions, and district votes on South Dakota High School Activities Association measures.
The board ratified the 2026–27 master agreement reached with the BEA, which included a district-offered 2.5% pay increase for teachers that the association accepted. The ratification was moved, seconded and approved without extended debate.
Board members also approved a transportation-services contract template to formalize inter-district transport arrangements, accepted numerous donations to school libraries and programs (including a nearly $7,000 contribution from Winkx Jewelry raised at an autograph session with Tucker Craft), and authorized a consulting agreement with Powers Consulting to provide special-education consulting support for complex IEP development and related services.
The board approved miscellaneous pay-rate adjustments for 2026–27 (substitutes, extra duties and other specified positions), and voted to authorize the business manager to pay routine bills outside the regular approval cycle due to the early meeting date; those payments are to be reported at the next regular meeting.
On policy, the board approved revisions to JCC (elementary attendance areas and learner transfers) and agreed to add clearer language to forms to note that the May 15 deadline applies to petitions for the upcoming school year and that extenuating circumstances may be appealed to the superintendent.
The board considered three South Dakota High School Activities Association ballot amendments and cast the district’s votes. During the discussion on amendment 2 (eligibility when a school closes), board member Wes objected, saying the change could be unfair to student athletes caught in closure situations: "I think it's not fair to the student athlete," he said. The activities director and other board members explained the amendments aim to curb speculative transfers driven by rumors of closure. Despite the objection, the board voted to cast 'yes' votes on the association ballots as recommended by the activities director; the board also cast the district's vote for Jeff Coers as the SDHSAA Division 4 representative.
Finally, the board approved a supplemental amendment to the current 2025–26 budget (see related coverage) and agreed to move the June board meeting start time to 10:00 a.m. on June 8. The meeting concluded with a vote to enter executive session under SDCL 1-25-2(4) to discuss contracts and salaries.
