Brian Sampson

The Board agenda was approved, followed by the Superintendent sharing an Executive Proclamation and presenting certificates to board members. The consent agenda was approved, which recognized several students selected for various 2026 South Dakota All-State Jazz Band and Band/Honor Band events, as well as SDSU Honor Band participation. The Board reviewed and accepted the January financial report and February claims and vouchers across multiple funds. Other discussions included updates on delinquent meal accounts, lead testing in schools, the timeline for filing board position petitions, preliminary budget revenue numbers, and a report on the Northeast Educational Services Cooperative meeting. The Principal provided updates on science instruction scheduling, a potential partnership with the Boys & Girls Club, and a Title Fun Night event. The Superintendent also updated the Board on the legislative session and potential schedule adjustments. A board member agreed to sit on the Board of Equalization. The Board entered into an executive session for contract negotiations before adjourning the meeting.

The School Board meeting included an executive session for consulting with legal counsel. Key actions involved approving the monthly financial report for December 2025 and recognizing a student for the Kendrick Castillo Memorial Outstanding Student Award. Discussions included a building and grounds update regarding a generator quote, the need to hire a driver's education teacher, and the upcoming circulation date for election petitions. The board accepted the resignations of the special education director/teacher and the food service director, effective at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Contracts were approved for a new custodian and a behavior technician. The Superintendent reported on the Northeast Educational Services Cooperative Board of Directors meeting and discussed the upcoming legislative session and the 2026-2027 calendar.

The board discussed a building and grounds update on options/cost for backup generators. They approved the resignation of an educational assistant with penalty and approved contracts for Junior High/Assistant Girls Basketball coaches, as well as a contract addendum for a behavior technician. Volunteer wrestling coaches were recognized. The Northeast Educational Services Cooperative meeting was reported on. Reports were given on Christmas in the Commons, pep fests, 4th grade preparations for the wax museum and South Dakota books, and semester tests dates. Information on the Governor's address was presented. The school board election date was set for June 2, 2026, and the board entered an executive session for consulting with legal counsel/reviewing attorney communication.

The Arlington School District 38-1 Board of Education held a regular session where they approved the school board meeting agenda and the consent agenda, which included the monthly financial report and recognition of achievements in girls' and boys' cross country, robotics, FFA, and oral interpretation. The board reviewed the October financial report and November claims and vouchers. Updates were given on the athletic complex drainage, Fire and Life Safety inspection, P-Card, and the audit. The board adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of individual procurement cards. They approved the resignation of a behavior technician and the retirement of a custodian, as well as contracts for educational assistants. Volunteer wrestling coaches were recognized. The Northeast Educational Services Cooperative meeting was reported on, and reports were given on the robotics team, Veteran's Day program, and Special Olympics program. The District profile and parent-teacher conferences were discussed. The board entered into executive sessions for personnel matters and employee evaluation. A Business Manager contract was offered and extended.

This report provides an overview of the Arlington School District's performance and demographics for the 2025-2026 academic year. It outlines the district's mission to educate students in a safe, challenging, and disciplined environment, fostering skills and knowledge for productive citizenship. Key areas covered include student and staff demographics, elementary, junior high, and high school performance in ELA and Math (SMARTER BALANCE results), Performance Index Scores (SPI), ACT composite scores, college readiness benchmarks, and post-graduation plans for graduates.