The Lennox School District 41-4 Board of Education held its regular meeting on October 14, beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance and the approval of the agenda. Board members Clayton Wulf, Nick Butler, and Melissa Daugherty were absent.
During the public comment session, alumnus Trey Gerdes spoke passionately about concerns within the district.
“I am an alumnus of the Lennox School District, I was the class valedictorian of my class, I was an athlete and involved in many extracurricular activities. My grandparents served this district for a combined 74 years. My mother graduated from here. Two of my aunts graduated from here. Three of my cousins graduated from here. And it would be my hope that my younger family who attends this district will be able to graduate from here as well,” Gerdes said. “I care deeply about this district and its students. What I have come to learn through many conversations over the last couple months is that no one felt safe voicing their concerns about a certain area of this district over the past three years due to fear of retaliation. As a result of this, many students, kids, have been scared, broken down, and hurt.”
Gerdes continued by stating how proud he was of the young people that came forward and said something — specifically, the current students.
“They knew very well that they could be retaliated against but did so anyway. That took guts. Those kids have more guts, more courage, and more integrity than many others who are in positions of power in this district. The students of this district deserve better. They deserve leaders who are going to back them when an issue of safety and well-being arises. Not ones who are going to quit or pass the issue off to someone else and say, ‘It’s not my problem.’ Any issue that deals with student safety and well-being should be every person’s problem who is in a leadership position in this district,” Gerdes continued. “The district cannot go back down a broken road where there has been insufferable amounts of damage left. There has to be a change for the better. This culture of fear and intimidation that is present in the district is troubling and sickening. If the district and its leaders aren’t going to protect its students, then who is?”
With no further public comments, the board moved into executive session at 5:04 p.m. with Nick Butler joining at 5:07 p.m. After emerging from the session at 6:01 p.m., Board President Scott Sandal announced two motions: to dismiss the Gerdes complaint and to deny the grievances filed by the Lennox Education Association (LEA). Both motions were approved.
The board then returned to executive session at 6:02 p.m. and reconvened at 8:27 p.m. Following this, the board voted unanimously to dismiss Chris Buckmiller from his duties as head boys’ basketball coach for the 2024-2025 season.
With the Administrative team filling in as acting Superintendent, Amanda Kruse provided a tentative calendar for the 2025 school year, expected to be ready for board review in January.
Darin Eich reported that the district’s report card would be made public on October 17. He also discussed strategic planning efforts, interim assessments, and upcoming safety trainings.
Angela Arlt, Business Manager, mentioned that the district is 24 students below its budgeted numbers, with a decline of nearly 30 students compared to last year.
Building principals also highlighted ongoing activities, including robotics lessons for elementary students. Eich also announced that LWC Intermediate will welcome current or retired military personnel on November 8 to participate in activities with fifth and sixth grade students, and they will also be invited to stay for lunch.
The board then appointed board member Renae Buehner as board representative for the 2024 ASBSD Delegate Assembly to be held Nov. 22 in Fort Pierre. The board also approved new substitutes and volunteers for workers’ compensation.
The board approved several other items, including early graduation applications for seven students; revisions to board policies were made, replacing references to the superintendent with the administrative team in areas concerning complaint procedures, school business office operations, and the chain of command; and the resignations and applications for district retirement bonus plan at the the end of the 2024-2025 school year from Wendy Kajer, Middle School Counselor, and Tammi Welch, Title I/Special Education.
The board also approved the contract of Junior High Assistant Volleyball Coach, Tatum Mark but the motion to approve Buckmiller as the Fall Strength Coach was rejected, with all members voting no.
The board approved the recognition of the Lennox High School Baseball Club, as well as the RFPs for the LHS addition, which involve relocating site lines and performing additional soil preparation for the new south parking lot.
The board also approved the surplus property of an outside freezer to the Florence School District and approved the school attorneys for the district with a slight change from the July minutes.
“We had a specific attorney listed from KSB Law but we want to make it so all attorneys there are available for our use,” said Arlt.
The board approved KSB Law as the District’s attorneys along with Churchill, Manolis, Freeman, Kludge, and Burns Lawfirm.
Allison provided the board with an update on the progress of the Lennox High School addition, noting that the project is moving along as scheduled. Meetings are held every other Tuesday to review developments. The tennis courts now have their blue playing surface and lines, and should be ready for use this week. Steel work, roof decking, and parking lot construction, including curb and gutter installation, are progressing steadily. The black theater curtain has been installed. The gym and locker rooms are expected to be completed by summer 2025, with the performing arts space ready by fall 2025.
The board discussed plans for the superintendent search, with a proposed meeting date of October 29 and an alternative date of November 6 at 6 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.