Celebrating 8 SpEd Staff of the Year Nominees!
Nominees included:
- Amanda Bork-Hickey, Special Education Teacher at John Harris Elementary
- Bruce Albers-Bradfeldt, School Psychologist at Roosevelt High School and Sonia Sotomayor Elementary
- Carol Neale, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher at Laura B. Anderson Elementary
- Elise Klarenbeek, Special Education Teacher at Axtell Park High School
- Grant Dunbar (a top 5 finalist!) a Special Education Teacher at Axtell Park High School
- Jolene Keckler, School Psychologist at Whittier Middle School and John Harris Elementary School
- Kirsten Bielen, Special Education teacher at Robert Frost Elementary School
- Mary Lawrence-Thompson, Speech Language Pathologist at Washington High School and Hawthorne Elementary
While none were ultimately selected as the statewide winner, we celebrate their commitment, compassion, and excellence in serving students and families each day. Their work exemplifies the heart of special education, and we are grateful for all they do!
Congratulations to all!
Operation Hope & Caring
Since 2017, more than $126,500 has been raised through Operation Hope & Caring to help Title I schools pay for field trips, playground equipment, winter snow gear, and school supplies.
This fundraiser is spearheaded by Levo Credit Union, in collaboration with Air Madness and KELOLand TV.
This past February, students and their families made lots of memories and spent some quality time together… all for the benefit of our schools. For $25, students could jump all day at Air Madness and they also received credit at Union Social to play some of their arcade games. Needless to say, it was a HUGE hit! More than $17,000 was raised through that event, other fundraisers, and the sale of a special coffee blend.
Levo is a strong supporter of schools. In addition to Operation Hope & Caring, they offer grants for teachers and scholarships for students.
The District’s Calendar Committee recently shared its recommendations for the 2026-2027 school year, which the School Board unanimously agreed with at tonight's meeting.
Highlights include:
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School starting Thursday, August 27, 2026, with a staggered start.
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Last student day on Wednesday, May 26, 2027, before Memorial Day.
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No school on Native American Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Graduation set for Sunday, May 23, 2027.
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A day off on Monday, April 19, 2027, after spring conferences.
The committee, made up of District and community reps, approved the draft 25-0. Final adjustments can still be made if needed.
View the full report by clicking below!
The tentative budget for FY26 was adopted at tonight's School Board meeting. School budgets are complex, and this year’s is no exception, with significant changes driven by the expiration of federal COVID relief funds and adjustments to state funding formulas.
Despite these challenges, SFSD remains committed to providing a responsible budget that prioritizes quality programs, competitive salaries, and support for students and families. The tentative budget also includes a slight decrease in the school property tax levy for local homeowners. The final budget will be officially adopted this summer.
To review the full report, click the attachment below.
Artificial Intelligence is changing the world, and education is no exception. SFSD invites staff, families, and community members to join us for a series of district-wide Family Listening Sessions focused on the use of AI in education.
Led by District leaders, these sessions will explore important questions, including:
🤖 How is AI being used in classrooms today?
🤖 Can AI personalize learning experiences for students?
🤖 Does it help or hinder the quality of student work?
🤖 Should teachers use AI tools when planning lessons?
🤖 And most importantly, how should AI be used in education?
Join us at one (or all) sessions:
📍Tuesday, April 15th, at LBA Elementary
📍Thursday, April 17th, at George McGovern MS
📍Tuesday, April 22nd, at RHS
All sessions run 6-7 PM and are open to everyone in our community! Please help us spread the word!
The Sioux Falls School Board election is coming up on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Four candidates are running for two open seats: Elizabeth Duffy, incumbent Nan Kelly, Patricia Ringold, and Thomas Werner. Current School Board President Carly Reiter will not seek reelection.
To help voters get to know the candidates, the League of Women Voters is hosting a School Board Candidate Forum on Wednesday, April 23rd, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at IPC. This is a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about their priorities for our schools. Can't make it to the forum? We'll provide a recording after the fact. Stay tuned!
June is just around the corner! Register for this fun event that gives back!
We are excited to announce that TeamMates has been selected as one of 10 nonprofit organizations to participate in this year's Health Connect Human Race, a community fundraising event supporting causes across the Sioux Empire!
The Human Race includes a 5K run and a 1 mile fun walk at Sertoma Park on Saturday, June 7th at 9 am. When you register, you get to choose a non-profit to support and 75% of your registration fee will go directly to TeamMates when you select them.
This is a fun, family-friendly way to get active and make a difference for the mentoring matches that benefits students across all grade levels!
We hope to see you there!
