Highlights & Insights
During the 2025 Legislative Session, House Bill 1068, which allows a student to wear a sash, stole, or other military decoration at a school graduation ceremony, if the sash, stole, or decoration was issued to the student by the South Dakota National Guard or a branch of the armed forces, for the purposes of being worn at the graduation ceremony, was passed and signed into law.
HB 1068 included an emergency clause, which means the new graduation attire requirement begins with this year’s graduation ceremonies and must be followed by your district.
ASBSD has drafted and adopted a new school board sample policy for your district to consider in IKFB: Graduation Ceremony Decoration, which includes the process of the student wearing sash, stole, or decoration at graduation, as well as the procedure for a student wearing a Native American eagle feather, eagle plume or beaded graduation cap also permitted in state law.
The sample policy is attached and can also be found at http://policy.asbsd.org. Your district’s login and password information has been previously provided to your district’s administration.
For questions related to the policy, contact Director of Policy & Legal Services Naomi Cromwell at ncromwell@asbsd.org or at 605-773-2513.
Questions about the bill can be directed to ASBSD Executive Director Heath Larson at hlarson@asbsd.org or at 605-773-2503 or Director of Communication Tyler Pickner at tpickner@asbsd.org or at 605-773-8382.
Let’s honor those who dedicate time and effort to their local public school and public education in South Dakota!
ASBSD encourages your district to nominate a board member, an individual, group or organization or your public school board for a 2025 ASBSD Award, which include: Outstanding School Board Member of the Year, Community Service Award or School Board Award of Excellence.
“South Dakota’s public school boards and their members, as well as their local district’s community members, put forth a great deal of hard work to ensure their school district continues to provide great education and service to their students, staff members and communities,” ASBSD Executive Director Heath Larson said.
“We want to commend their efforts by honoring them with one of our awards and encourage you to nominate these very deserving individuals, boards and organizations.”
ASBSD School Board Award of Excellence: The School Board Award of Excellence is given annually to a public school board that consistently demonstrates outstanding leadership that enhances the achievement for all students. A plaque and a scholarship award of $1,000, which may be used, at the discretion of the board, will be presented to the recipient.
Download the application here or visit the Documents page where the application can be found under the Awards heading.
Outstanding School Board Member: Nominate a local board member who exemplifies extraordinary leadership of public education by implementing initiatives that spur student achievement, advocating for secure funding sources for K-12 education and setting high expectations for the district and themselves among other high-quality characteristics.
Download the application here or visit the Documents page where the application can be found under the Awards heading.
ASBSD Community Service Award: is presented to individuals or groups serving their local school district in exemplary fashion. Award nominees have shown personal involvement to improve the quality of South Dakota public education.
Download the application here or visit the Documents page where the application can be found under the Awards heading.
The deadline for application and name submission for each award is Friday, June 27. Applications for each award should be submitted to ASBSD Executive Secretary Katie Mitchell-Boe by mail to: PO Box 1059, Pierre, SD 57501 or by email to: katie@asbsd.org.
ASBSD will recognize local school board members for specific years of service on their local school board with the Distinguished Service Award. Board members entering their 6th, 10th, 15th, 20th and each five years thereafter in the 2025-26 school year will be honored. ASBSD will contact board members who will be honored in the near future.
Award recipients will be honored at the 2025 ASBSD-SASD Convention in Sioux Falls on August 7.
If you have questions, please contact Katie via email at katie@asbsd.org or by phone at 605-773-2502.
by Educators Rising State Director Travis Lape
Dear South Dakota Associated School Boards Team,
I’m reaching out on behalf of Educators Rising South Dakota—a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and inspiring the next generation of educators across our state.
On May 6–8, we are launching our Giving Day Backpack Challenge, and we’d love for you and your member districts to join us in making a powerful impact.
What’s the Backpack Challenge?
We are currently serving 480 student members across 56 chapters in South Dakota—young people passionate about exploring a career in education. Through learning expos, leadership conferences, and national competitions, we provide hands-on opportunities that help them grow into confident, capable future educators. Next year we will have 270 spots available for student members to be part of our teacher assistant program that will provide a stipend to high school students to explore the world of education in a classroom for 30+ hours during the year. This was made possible with a national grant that we received to help with our work.
Our goal this Giving Day is to "pack 480 backpacks"—a symbolic campaign to raise $50 per member so every student can participate in our programming at no cost to them.
Here’s the best part: Five supporters giving just $10 each can pack one backpack together. It’s a simple, accessible way for everyone to play a role in shaping the future of education.
How You Can Help
We’re looking for individuals, schools, and communities across the state to join our Supporter List today so we head into Giving Day with momentum. On Giving Day you will get information on how you can give to make an impact.
Whether it’s a school board, a superintendent, or an educator who wants to give $10, $50, or simply spread the word—we would be honored to have you on this journey with us.
Together, we can make sure every student interested in teaching has the opportunity to grow, lead, and thrive—right here in South Dakota.
Registration for the Premier Learning Event for School Board Members and Administrators is now open!
Join hundreds of school leaders for the 2025 ASBSD-SASD Convention on Thursday and Friday, August 7-8 in Sioux Falls to network with fellow board members and administrators, learn from a keynote speech on school vouchers, celebrate achievements, absorb information from an excellent slate of breakout sessions, connect with great services for schools and prepare for the new school year!
Click here to register for the 2025 ASBSD-SASD Convention and follow these instructions: Convention Registration Information for Individuals, to complete registration. Individuals can register only themselves while Business Managers & Superintendents can register multiple people from the district.
Registration cost for the two-day conference is $205 per person with fees increasing to $250 after Friday, July 18 and $100 cancellation fee also applies for those cancelling on or after July 19 or not attending the Convention.
Districts registering 3 school board members receive a FREE registration for one administrator.
Attending Board members earn 20 ALL points for their school board and administrators earn 15 CEU’s!
Blocks of hotel rooms are still being set up and we will provide that information when available.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact ASBSD Director of Communications Tyler Pickner at 605-773-8382 or at tpickner@asbsd.org.
