On Jan. 12 the Vermillion School District 13‑1 board approved facility‑use waivers for a local dance nonprofit and a youth soccer tournament, set the 2026–27 school year dates, approved administrative rehires and volunteer lists, and accepted the district’s midyear financial report; the board also entered executive session for negotiations and personnel.
Superintendent Dr. Ali told the board the district has advanced several strategic goals — from academics and CTE to attendance and data systems — and proposed next steps including professional development, a possible middle‑school summer program and further collaboration with USD and community partners.
District administrators reported stable student participation in activities (about 78–81% of high school students involved), an outdoor-learning project funded by the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation, bus-pass pricing changes for spring and an upcoming staff in-service focused on ethical and practical uses of AI.
The Vermillion School District 13-1 board approved a June 2, 2026 election date, a combined election agreement with Clay County and the City of Vermillion, and a modest FY2026 budget supplement that shifts some local spending and responds to an electricity-rate change; the board also acknowledged the new state minimum wage of $11.85.
District administrators reported a fall enrollment of 1,305.81 students, down roughly 80 over two years, and described attendance interventions. The board approved a clarification to policy 3012 on meal charges and later entered executive session for a personnel matter.
High school students asked the Vermillion School District 13-1 board to recognize Science Olympiad as a club; the board approved adult volunteers and authorized a trust and agency account to manage fundraising, citing required bylaws and financial controls.
Representatives from the USD Tiospaye Student Council requested a fee waiver to use the elementary gym for an Oct. 28 Monster Bash; Vermillion High School students described their Educators Rising chapter activities, internships and fundraising plans and asked the board to approve a trust/account for the group.
The Vermillion School District board approved consent agenda items (minutes, hires, volunteers, surplus), authorized facility use for a University of South Dakota Monster Bash, and approved a Johnson Controls HVAC service agreement that adds elementary coverage; approvals were by omnibus motion and voice vote.
Superintendent and administrators presented district and school-level assessment data showing strengths in middle school and science, weaker results in math at the high school and disparities between one elementary school's ELA and the district average; the board discussed resources, interim assessments and training to address flagged subgroups.
Superintendent reported the district’s enrollment at about 1,315 students—down roughly 30 from last year and about 75 from two years ago—before the Sept. 26 state count date, and warned that lower enrollment could reduce state aid by roughly $7,500 per student annually.
