District Dialogue

Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem talks about the tremendous successes of the 2023-2024 school year and hints at everything still to come in the near future for your public schools.

After hearing from residents and speaking with city officials, Superintendent Jane Stavem began exploring opportunities to retain the space as a district property while also allowing for enhancements that benefit the neighborhood. The outcome is a new collaborative partnership between the Sioux Falls School District, Axtell Park students, neighborhood residents, and the City of Sioux Falls.

President's Bowl has been around for many, many years in the Sioux Falls School District. This annual event brings together students and staff from across the District for a day full of community and camaraderie. Recent years have seen fundraising goals met and exceeded, with new events being introduced and whole communities stepping up to show support. At tonight's school board meeting the board got an update on President's Bowl efforts and the gains they've made recently.

SFSD’s New Hire Academy fosters community among new staff while supporting their professional growth. This program focuses on key aspects of our curriculum, effective teaching methodologies, and responsive approaches to student needs. Feedback from teachers who have participated in this program is positive, and it points to one major theme - when educators feel supported they are more motivated, effective, and committed to providing the highest quality education to their students.

To view the full report, open the file below.

In 2019, the Finance Action Network (FAN) was called together and met on April 23, 2019.

The purpose of the meeting was to study the $7.5 million opt out expiring in 2022 and make a

recommendation to the School Board.

Based on the input from FAN, the School Board opted out for $1.5 million in 2020, $1.6 million (to account for inflation) in 2021, and $1.7 million in 2022. None of those opt-outs affected the property tax rate as they were partial replacements of the $7.5 million set to expire in 2022 and were not levied. For 2023, the Board opted out for $1.8 million and raised the opt out amount levied to $11 million through the FY23 budget process. For 2024, the Board opted out for $1.9 million and maintained the opt out levy at $11 million. The current maximum opt out is $13.1 million.

For taxes payable in 2025, Administration is recommending a $2.0 million opt out to move

toward providing the District with the two percent contingency recommended by FAN. The opt out

amount that will be levied by the Board in 2024 is $11.5 million.

To view the full report, open the file below.

The second annual South Dakota Education and Agriculture Conference will be held on June 11 and 12 in the Raven Precision Agriculture Center. Information about the conference as well as the registration form can be found at the following link:

https://www.sdstate.edu/academics/2024-education-and-agriculture-conference

Registration is $50 for both days and $30 for one day attendance.

The conference will feature speakers and panel discussions on topics such as dairy in the classroom, soil health, agriculture and reading, and rural mental health. Educators are eligible for 1-2 graduate credits and 1.7 CEUs for participation in the conference and completion of post-conference activities. They may also be eligible for a stipend and/or travel reimbursement if they attend the session on soil health and submit a reflection.

Deadline is May 31st, 2024.

SandCreek, our Employee Assistance Program, is free, confidential, and available to ALL Sioux Falls School District employees and their family members. As a part of their extensive list of offerings, SandCreek offers FREE monthly webinars that cover a variety of topics. VBelow are a couple upcoming ones!

To register for a SandCreek account, visit www.SandCreekEAP.com and click the “Sign Up” link just below the Log In button. Enter siouxfalls as your company code and complete the signup process! A confirmation email will be sent to complete the registration.

The Power of Listening

Wednesday, June 12th at 12:30pm

According to the Greek philosopher Epictetus, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak”. However, simply hearing what someone says, and actively listening are two very different things. Active listening skills are critical to business success. In this session we will explore the three basic listening modes, we will discuss how individual communication styles affect listening and we will practice active listening strategies.

Click HERE to register!

Family and Friends - Relationships

Wednesday, July 10th at 12:30pm

Establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship requires monitoring and utilizing emotional tools to keep those relationships strong. In this class, participants will take part in interactive and lively discussions on the misconceptions of relationships, the meaning of fulfillment, the importance of communication, and the real definition of happiness. This class will conclude with the key ingredients for a successful relationship and create an action plan to strengthen our relationships and recognize areas we can improve upon.

Click HERE to register!

Click to view more upcoming webinars.

Click to view previously recorded webinars to watch now.

As a reminder, May is the last month to submit workouts for FitClub. The final FitClub payment will be made in June for those May workouts.

Questions? Please email benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us

Check your license - is it time to renew? If so, be sure to start your renewal process as soon as possible to avoid having your certification lapse!

To apply for your renewal, visit https://www.sd.gov/educator and log-in to the account you previously used for your certification. Once logged in, click “Apply” in the red bar at the top of the screen and locate the application titled “Educator Renewal Application.” Complete the application and include all requested documents (i.e. updated Suicide Prevention Training certificate)

• View the Department of Education’s document on Renewal Requirements for Teachers at:https://doe.sd.gov/certification/documents/RenewalRequ-teacher.pdf.
• View the Department of Education’s document on Renewal Requirements for Administrators at:https://doe.sd.gov/certification/documents/RenewalReq-Admin.pdf

Questions on Certification Renewal? Contact Kate DiPasquale at kate.dipasquale@k12.sd.us!

You are at an increased risk of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays when traveling near the equator, during summer months, at high altitudes, and between 10 am and 4 pm. You can even be exposed to UV rays on cloudy days! Reflection from the snow, sand, and water increases sun exposure, so protect yourself from the sun during outdoor activities, including skiing (snow or water), spending time at the beach, swimming, and sailing.

Protect Yourself from the Sun

• Stay in the shade, especially during midday hours (10 am to 4 pm).
• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.
• Use sunscreen.
• Use SPF 15 or higher.

• Look for “blocks UVA and UVB” or “broad spectrum” on the label.
• Apply sunscreen liberally (minimum of 1 ounce) at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.
• Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin. Remember to apply to ears, scalp, lips, neck, tops of feet, and backs of hands.
• Reapply at least every 2 hours and each time you get out of the water or sweat heavily.
• If you are also using insect repellent, apply sunscreen first and repellent second. Sunscreen may need to be reapplied more often.
• Throw away sunscreens after 1–2 years.

• Avoid indoor tanning. Getting a “base tan” before your vacation damages your skin and doesn’t protect you from sun exposure on your trip.

Treating a Sunburn

• Take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to relieve pain, headache, and fever.
• Drink plenty of water, and soothe burns with cool baths or by gently applying cool, wet cloths.
• Use a topical moisturizing cream or aloe to provide additional relief.
• Don’t go back into the sun until the burn has healed.
• If skin blisters, lightly bandage or cover the area with gauze to prevent infection. Don’t break blisters (that would slow healing and increase risk of infection). Apply antiseptic ointment if blisters break.

Seek medical attention if any of the following occur:

• Severe sunburn, especially if it covers more than 15% of the body.
• Dehydration (see “ Travel to Hot Climates ”).
• High fever (above 101°F).
• Extreme pain that lasts more than 48 hours.

Source: CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention