Highlights & Insights
ASBSD and the ASB Protective Trust extend a sincere thank you to Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Protective Trust Holly Nagel for her more than 6 years of dedicated and excellent service to all members and public school districts.
Nagel will conclude her tenure with ASBSD and the Protective Trust next week, but will assist with the transition for a period of time.
“My time with ASBSD and the Protective Trust has been both professionally and personally fulfilling,” Nagel said. “I’m thankful to have had the time to work with our wonderful members and amazing team at ASBSD and PT. Thank you to all for the trust and support during my time with the Association.”
Since 2018, Nagel has dutifully led the Protective Trust by growing the funds, expanding services and ensuring the many individuals served by PT receive the highest quality service, while also managing the finances of ASBSD in a very fiscally sound manner.
“We’re thankful for Holly’s effort and dedication to ASBSD and the Protective Trust,” Executive Director Heath Larson said. “She has been a valuable member of our team, and her work ethic will be missed, as will her friendship. We wish her all the best.”
ASBSD is seeking to fill the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Protective Trust Services position, which you can learn more about here.
by Naomi Cromwell
Director of Policy & Legal Services
Updated Title IX guidance handed down this week from National School Boards Association recapped an Office of Civil Rights (OCE) Dear Colleague letter advising educators and administrators that OCR will be enforcing the 2020 Title IX Rule, rather than the 2024 Title IX Rule, in all schools across the country.
The Dear Colleague Letter states OCR will be enforcing Title IX consistent with the Presidential Executive Order issued on January 20, 2025 (Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government), which defines the word "sex" to mean "an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female" and "does not include the concept of 'gender identity.'"
According to the Updated Title IX Guidance, no portion of the 2024 Title IX rule is now in effect in any jurisdiction in the country.
Although South Dakota was among the states for which the 2024 regulations were stayed in July of 2024, in light of the Dear Colleague Letter and the Presidential Executive Order, schools may want to review their policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with the 2020 Title X Regulations and Executive Order.
We have outstanding educational leaders in South Dakota.
Please join the South Dakota School Superintendent Association in celebrating our public school superintendents by submitting nominations for the following awards:
Outstanding Superintendent of the Year
The SDSSA Executive Board honors an “Outstanding Superintendent of the Year” Award to honor a superintendent who has made significant contributions to Leadership for Learning, Communication, Professionalism, and Community Involvement.
Download the nomination form here.
Community Leader of the Year
The SDSSA Executive Board has instituted a “Community Leader” Award to honor a superintendent who has made an investment in his/her community above and beyond the scope of the school district’s responsibilities.
Download the nomination form here.
Innovator of the Year
The SDSSA Executive Board has instituted an “Innovator of the Year” Award to honor a superintendent who has exhibited exemplary leadership ability in creating new programs or concepts that have a positive impact on staff development, recruitment, or retention, or creating new programming that directly impacts student learning, student achievement, or student educational experiences.
Download the nomination form here.
Rookie of the Year
The SDSSA Executive Board has instituted a “Rookie of the Year” Award to honor a superintendent in their first three years in the profession who has exhibited exemplary leadership ability in making a difference in their school district through new programs or concepts that have a positive impact on the dynamics of the district.
Download the nomination form here.
Distinguished Service Award
The SDSSA Executive Committee has instituted a Distinguished Service Award to honor retired or retiring superintendents who have exhibited exemplary leadership ability and have enhanced the school's superintendency in South Dakota.
Download the nomination form here.
All individuals nominated for Outstanding Superintendent will be automatically nominated for Community Leader and Innovator of the Year. Individuals may submit specific nominations for Innovator and Community Leader of the Year.
Please complete the components associated with the nomination. All nominations should include the basic data and overview sheet.
Nominations are due by March 28.
The premier learning event for South Dakota school board members and administrators is seeking people to share their expertise and knowledge with the large contingent of school leaders who will attend the 2025 ASBSD-SASD Convention.
The ASBSD-SASD Convention is scheduled to be held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center on Thursday and Friday, August 7-8.
Download the Breakout Session proposal form here and submit it by Friday, April 11 to kara.brandlee@sasd.org.
ASBSD and SASD will review submitted proposals and contact the applicant(s) of proposals at a date in the future.
If you have questions, about breakout session proposals or Convention, please contact Kara Brandlee with SASD at kara.brandlee@sasd.org.
Legislative Cracker Barrels in your area offer access to your local legislators, as well as the chance to hear their answers on a variety of legislative topics.
Below you will find a list of dates and locations of legislative cracker barrels being held throughout South Dakota that have been posted thus far.
Please send any dates and locations of legislative cracker barrels in your area that are not listed below to Tyler at tpickner@asbsd.org and we will add them to the list, which is still being and will be updated throughout session.
Aberdeen:
In the Kessler’s Champions Club in the Barnett Center on the NSU campus from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Saturday, February 22
Brookings:
In the City/County Government Center beginning at 9 a.m.
- Saturday, February 22
Deadwood:
In the Deadwood Gulch Resort in the Creek Side Convention Center beginning at 10 a.m.
- Saturday, March 1
Gettysburg:
In the Gettysburg Mini Mall beginning at 2:30 p.m.
- To be Determined
Huron:
At City Hall from 9 to 10 a.m.
- Saturday, February 22
- Saturday, March 8
Rapid City:
In the Event Center at the Western Dakota Tech Event Center from 9 to 11 a.m.
- Saturday, March 8
Selby:
At the Selby Community Center beginning at 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, February 22
Sioux Falls:
At HUB Auditorium on the Southeast Technical College campus beginning at 10 a.m.
- Saturday, February 22
Sturgis:
At the Erskine Building from 9 to 11 a.m.
- Saturday, March 1
Vermillion:
At City Hall from 9 to 11 a.m.
- Saturday, March 1
Yankton:
In the City Commission Room at the CMTEA building beginning at 10 a.m.
- Saturday, February 22
- Saturday, March 15
