Associated School Boards of South Dakota

December03: Policy Alert: Staff related policies amended

Two sample policies pertaining to school staff members received revisions. Modifications to sample policy GBI: Staff Gifts and Solicitations are substantial. “After review of the sample policy, we made significant edits to acceptance of gifts by employees,” ASBSD Director of Policy & Legal Services Jessica Filler said. “In addition, changes were also made

December02: Policy Alert: Vaping references added to sample policies

References to vaping marked the changes in two sample policies. Sample policies AEA: Tobacco and Vaping Free Schools and JFC: Student Conduct received edits by the ASBSD policy team. “Changes made to sample policy AEA: Tobacco and Vaping Free Schools included a prohibition for vaping, as well as the prohibition of distribution or

December01: Proposed Social Studies standards have second hearing

South Dakota’s proposed social studies standards had their second hearing, recently. Opponents and proponents shared their sentiments with the state Board of Education Standards – who will ultimately make the decision – on the proposed standards in a more than three hour long hearing in Sioux Falls on November 21. Those in favor

December01: Sec. Sanderson stepping down as S.D. DOE leader

South Dakota Secretary of Education Tiffany Sanderson will be leaving her role as leader of the Department of Education at the conclusion of 2022. Sec. Sanderson has been named President of Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD and will begin serving in that role at the start of 2023. “I have a

December01: Policy Alert: Multiple policies receive revisions

Updated terminology was incorporated into multiple sample policies ranging from school board legal status to students in foster care and a few other topics in between. BB: School Board Legal Status Changed reference for Vocational Education to Technical Education DBDA: General Fund Balance Changes the term LEP to the updated term English Learner (EL)

November24: Safe2Say South Dakota reporting platform active

An anonymous tip platform for students, staff and communities to report concerning or threatening behaviors is now active. The South Dakota School Safety Program launched Safe2Say South Dakota, a 24/7 reporting platform available through the free Safe2Say South Dakota App (available through Apple or Google Play), at https://safe2say.sd.gov/ or at the toll-free telephone number,

November22: Free telemental health services available to schools

A partnership between two state agencies is bringing mental health services to schools FREE of charge! The Department of Education and Department of Social Services will provide schools with additional support in helping students and their families access available mental health services as well as an understanding of when/how to refer students for mental

November21: Have an open administrative position? We can help your district.

Among the most important decisions a school board will make is selecting your district’s administrative leaders. Whether Superintendent, Business Manager, Principal or other administrative positions, ASBSD and Dakota Education Consulting’s search services is the best option for your school. Since 2019, ASBSD and DEC have combined their knowledge, networks and experience to conduct

November16: More than 90 School Boards earn ALL award

A record number of school boards earned awards in the sixth year of the ALL program. In 2021-22 91 public school boards – more than 60 percent of the public boards in South Dakota – earned an ALL award, which is ASBSD’s statewide board recognition program and stands for Act, Learn, Lead. The previous

November12: Download the 2022-23 Emergency School Bus Pact

ASBSD has continued its coordinating role for the Emergency School Bus Mutual Assistance Pact between school districts, which operates in the event a bus traveling outside of its home district fails and is in need of assistance. ASBSD has collected and supplied a list of emergency phone numbers for the cooperating districts so they