Surplus equipment, including new Lund boat, dominates school board meeting

Erik Kaufman, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·3 min read

Mar. 9—MITCHELL — The Mitchell Board of Education will consider declaring several pieces of district property as surplus when it meets for its next meeting on Monday.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Room 10 at the Mitchell Career and Technical Education Academy.

The agenda for the meeting indicates several pieces of specific equipment that will be reviewed for potential surplus status, including a boat and trailer.

The item, a 2024 Lund 1875 Impact boat with Mercury 150 horsepower motor and a Shoreland'r trailer, was purchased in February of 2023 and is being set up and rigged by Mitchell Technical College students in the Powersports-Marine program.

A legal ad for sealed bid sale is expected to be published March 16 and March 23. The minimum bid amount will be set and published at the cost Mitchell Tech has incurred to purchase, set up and rig the boat. The boat will not be sold for less than the amount Mitchell Technical College has invested in the boat.

The bid opening date will be April 3. If a successful bid is received, it will be presented for school board approval at its April 8 meeting.

Among the other equipment considered for surplus is a Ford lawn mower cab, a commercial dishwasher, a Silen Hoist FK7.5 forklift and a Coats 40-40SA tire machine.

The four pieces have already been taken out of service by the district. The Silen Hoist forklift is not in working condition, according to the agenda notes.

Also at the meeting, the board is expected to consider the following personnel items:

* The new certified hires of Amber Hiles, head oral interp adviser, $491.00, effective 2023-24 school year and Emily Higgins, ELA at Mitchell High School, $51,800, effective 2024-25 school year.

* The new classified hires of Hailey Robbins, paraeducator at L.B. Williams Elementary, $18.25 per hour at 7 hours daily and Kern Parce, maintenance, $21 per hour at 8 hours daily. Both hires are effective March 4.

* The resignations of Madison Ortmeier, ELA teacher and debate coach, effective end of the 2023-24 school year; Cassey VerHey, directorship 21st Century Learning Grant; Diane Way, directorship 21st Century Learning Grant; Kelsey VanOverschelde, directorship 21st Century Learning Grant; Stacie Biggerstaff, directorship 21st Century Learning Grant and Maissa Abts, directorship 21st Century Learning Grant and Jacey Jira, directorship 21st Century Learning Grant. All resignations are effective June 30 unless otherwise noted.

* The retirement or early retirement of Jane Dahme, 3rd grade teacher and Cindy Bierman, special education teacher at PACT. Both are effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

* The Mitchell Technical College retirement of Julie Hart-Schutte, human services technician instructor and Mike Puetz, power line construction and maintenance instructor. Both are effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

Also at the meeting, the board is expected to:

* Hear board member reports, including board member committee assignments by board president.

* Hear the superintendent report.

* Hear public commentary.

* Recognize state wrestling place winners.

The meeting is open to the public. The Mitchell Republic will livestream the meeting on its website.