HURON — Jolene Konechne, director of ESL, gave a report on the English as a Second Language curriculum during the Huron School Board meeting Monday night.

Huron School District will join two other districts in the state, Sioux Falls and Rapid City, and rename the language program English Language, or EL.

This year the Huron School District had 1,012 students in the EL program. There are 195 EL students at Buchanan K-1 Center, 218 at Madison 2-3 Center, 174 at Washington 4-5 Center, 199 in middle school, 193 in high school, 16 at Huron Colony and 18 at Riverside Colony.

Following testing earlier this month that looks at a students proficiency and growth, they had 68 students exit the EL program.

“We’re really proud of the teachers and students for the hard work they put in,” Konechne said.

Work continues on the middle school and high school building projects, with replacement of the middle school boiler to begin after school lets out for the summer.

Next Tuesday, May 20, will be the final day of school for the Huron district.

“We encountered countless successes, multiple challenges and several heartbreaks,” Superintendent Kraig Steinhoff told the board. “The staff and students persevered and lived the Huron School District vision of Respect, Pride and Excellence for All.

“Looking ahead, there are 101 days until school starts next fall,” he added.

Baccalaureate will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at Huron Arena. Graduation will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at Huron Arena.

Summer school sessions will be held May 22 through June 6, with the exception of Memorial Day on May 26.

Free grab & go meals will be offered to all children ages 1 through 18 from May 27 through Aug. 1. Sign up for the program through the school nutrition office. Meals can be picked up Tuesday and Friday at Huron Middle School.

The board approved several grant funding requests that will help transport students for after school activities and to refurbish a Steinway grand piano.

Congratulations were extended to Employees of the Year, which were announced at the May 7 recognition banquet. They include:
• Classified: Ginger Brake and Rod Witte
• Professional support staff: Taylor Stahly
• Elementary teacher: Krissa Korkow
• Middle school teacher: Amanda Katzenberger

Eighth-grader Eh Ku Shee was recognized for breaking the 200 meter hurdle record at 33.0 seconds at the track meet in Huron on May 1.

Jeremy Hofer, 10th grade, recently broke the school record in javelin at the Pierre meet, and Hylton Heinz, 11th grade, broke her old record in the javelin at the Brookings meet.

Appreciation was expressed to Jake Lindgren of Edward Jones for donating 100 t-shirts to students for Mental Health Awareness Month, to Molly Perry and the cast and crew of “Clue” for two fantastic performances, and to the vendors and students for a successful fourth annual Business & Career Fair.

The Dreyer family, Harmon family and Cronin family were recognized for their donation of instruments to the fifth grade band at Washington 4-5 Center.

Kelly Christopherson, business manager, gave a detailed report on the school’s budget for the coming year, based on an anticipated enrollment of 3,080 for next year. The district has 542 special education students, and 65 percent of students qualified for free and reduced meals in the district.

The board approved eight new hires for the district, and approved 8 resignations.

Following an executive session, a leave of absence request by Brenda Knouse, SPED para educator at Madison 2-3 Center was denied.