Southeast Area Cooperative
Advisory Board Meeting
January 17, 2023
A meeting of the Advisory Board of Southeast Area Cooperative was held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at the office of Southeast Area Cooperative, Beresford, South Dakota. Members present were: Tim Rhead, Alcester-Hudson School District; Dustin Degen, Beresford School District; Russ Townsend, Canton School District; Philip Schonebaum, Elk Point-Jefferson School District; and Brett Mellem, Viborg-Hurley School District. Also present were Tricia West, Director and Ann Boden, Business Manager Southeast Area Cooperative. Brett Mellem called the meeting to order at 11:07 a.m.
A motion was made by Tim Rhead and seconded by Russ Townsend to approve the agenda adding item 9B to approve administrative contracts. All present voted yes. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Dustin Degen and seconded by Philip Schonebaum to approve the minutes of the
December 20, 2022 regular meeting. All present voted yes. Motion carried.
The financial report as prepared by the Business Manager for December 2022 was presented: General Fund Beginning Balance: $876,317; Receipts: $90,052; Disbursements: $185,307 for an ending balance of $781,062. A motion was made by Tim Rhead and seconded by Russ Townsend to approve the financial report as presented. All present voted yes. Motion carried.
A listing of bills was presented. A motion was made by Russ Townsend and seconded by Dustin Degen to
approve the payment of January bills. All present voted yes. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Dustin Degen and seconded by Philip Schonebaum to enter executive session at 11:11 a.m. per SDCL 1-25-2(1) for discussing the qualifications, competence, performance, character or
fitness of any public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee. All present voted yes.
Motion carried. President Brett Mellem declared the Board out of executive session at 11:17 a.m.
A motion was made by Dustin Degen and seconded by Russ Townsend to give Early Childhood teachers a $1,500 bonus payable January 2023 and a $1,500 bonus payable in June 2023 in recognition of the current staff shortage. All present voted yes. Motion carried.
The Leadership Team report included:
Snow days and district calendars
Early Childhood screenings
Special Education Networking meeting scheduled for March 9th
Perkins consortium directors meeting is February 9th
Launch Skills curriculum pilot in Beresford.
A motion was made by Tim Rhead and seconded by Philip Schonebaum to enter executive session at 11:39 a.m. per SDCL 1-25-2(1) for discussing the qualifications, competence, performance, character or
fitness of any public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee. All present voted yes.
Motion carried. President Brett Mellem declared the Board out of executive session at 12:02 p.m.
A motion was made by Russ Townsend and seconded by Philip Schonebaum to approve administrative
contracts for Director and Business Manager with terms and conditions to be determined later. All present voted yes. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Tim Rhead and seconded by Russ Townsend to adjourn the meeting. All present
voted yes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 12:04 p.m.
Brett Mellem, President
Ann Boden, Business Manager