Spearfish School District 40-2 trustees approved multiple routine actions Feb. 9, 2026, including a $20,475.18 transfer to the National Teammates Organization, an addendum to the West River Foundation agreement granting staff right of first refusal on a CTE house, scheduling a Feb. 25 special meeting for candidate selection, and accepting Corbin Peterson’s resignation while waiving $2,000 in liquidated damages.
Rosalie S. Leeson, co‑president of a new Spearfish Museum board, described a planned donation of the Meyer House annex and a dolls collection appraised at $1,500,000; the Black Hills Area Community Foundation is serving as fiscal sponsor and the board requested volunteers and fundraising support.
High school staff proposed moving the district alternative school back to Spearfish High School’s CTE building, citing personalized learning and dropout prevention. Estimated current cost factor cited as $200,000; plan would start with 30–40 students and hire two full‑time certified teachers.
Board approved an early‑notice retirement incentive addendum to the district's negotiated agreements; staff reported unanimous or near‑unanimous assent from the referenced bargaining groups. No detailed financial terms were read into the public record.
Board authorized sending an RFP directly to architectural firms for West Elementary renovation/addition and will form a facilities committee to interview candidates and obtain design‑cost estimates to inform renovation vs. new construction decisions.
The board approved a renewed memorandum of understanding with Kids Club. Changes include explicit district priority for facility use, a requirement that Kids Club make a good‑faith effort to track and reimburse use of supplies, and clarified scope for before/after‑school and summer programming. Sarah Moyer was identified as Kids Club director.
The board approved an amendment to proceed with construction of a middle‑school track and field with Mammoth/Mammut Sports; discussion covered cost containment, fundraising goals (20% target), construction schedule, warranty terms, and donor signage/maintenance arrangements.
Auditors reported a clean (unmodified) opinion for the fiscal year ending 06/30/2025 and issued two findings: firm-prepared financial statements (board responsibility to review) and five audit adjustment entries (improved from 13 last year). The board approved the audit resolution by roll call.
The board heard alternative proposals for the Creekside middle‑school track and field, including a lower‑cost 2‑inch overlay (~$404K) and a full track+artificial turf option estimated at about $2.74M; the superintendent recommended further discussion and possible fundraising before a January decision.
Spearfish School District superintendent told the board a Black Hills Pioneer headline showing a 39.8% K–12 spending rise (2020–2024) is misleading, attributing most of the change to one‑time federal COVID-era ESSER funds, enterprise funds and capital‑project accounting tied to the district’s CTE building.
