Spearfish board approves SDHSAA votes, policy updates and hires one Educators Rising advisor

The Spearfish School District 40‑2 board on May 11 voted to cast the district’s SDHSAA Division representative vote for Jeff Coers and approved three SDHSAA amendments clarifying trimester eligibility, transfer eligibility when districts close and early‑graduate eligibility.

Board members discussed several personnel and handbook items and approved policy language added after community input. Kirk, a district staff member, said the district attorney provided wording to clarify that the social‑media policy’s list of prohibited uses “is not exclusive and provides examples,” and that the district must apply the Pickering balancing test when deciding whether an employee’s social‑media use disrupts the learning environment.

In other business the board approved a single contractor’s garbage bid for the 2026–27 school year, noting the monthly contract price increased by $94 compared with the prior period. The board also approved the special education comprehensive plan and the second reading of several teacher and administrative policies as presented.

The board considered adding two Educators Rising advisors but, after discussion about current participation, amended the motion to approve one advisor for now. Board members said the advisor stipend was placed at group three (approximately $1,800 annually); presenters noted the program currently has seven students and that the district started the program in January/February. The board approved the amended motion by voice vote.

The meeting approved routine consent‑agenda items, previous meeting minutes and the monthly financial reports by voice vote. The board then voted to enter executive session to discuss personnel matters under South Dakota codified law 1‑25‑2.