December 2012

The regular meeting of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 29 met on Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Woonsocket Community Center with President Dawn Rassel presiding. Chaplain Judy Stenzel led the opening prayer and The National Anthem was led by Marian Andersen, the music chairman.
The minutes of the November meeting and treasurer’s report were given and approved.
The December newsletter  from President Theresa Maeschen was read. Units were thanked for the Christmas stockings and donations for the Christmas gift shop. There is a need for additional hygiene items for veterans. Any donations are appreciated.
A bill for the dictionaries and Constitution pamphlets was presented and accepted for payment. The dictionaries will be given to the third grade  students and the Constitution leaflet to the fifth grade students.
It was decided to donate money to the Creative Arts Festival project, which benefits veterans.
Following closing ceremonies, President Dawn Rassel adjourned the meeting.
The next meeting will be Jan. 8, 2013.
Bingo helper for December is Bobbi White and she is also furnishing the bars.
Cookies for the PVCC Bingo will be furnished by Fran Petersen and Paula Linke.

UNAPPROVED MINUTES
DECEMBER 10, 2012
The Woonsocket Board of Education met in regular session on December 10th, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the library/media center of the Woonsocket School. Members attending were: Gary Steichen, Todd Olinger, Jason White and Darrin Uttecht. Jim Grassel was absent due to a prior commitment. Others attending were: Superintendent Rod Weber, Principal Paula Lynch, and Chris Selland. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
On a motion by Todd Olinger, seconded by Jason White, the Board approved the meeting agenda as presented with one additional item to come before the Board. Motion carried.
The minutes of the regular board meeting held on November 12, 2012 were approved as presented on a motion by Darrin Uttecht, seconded by Todd Olinger.  Motion carried.
On a motion by Jason White, seconded by Todd Olinger, the Board approved the claims presented and the November 2012 financial report as follows, motion carried:
GENERAL FUND beginning balance: $853,329.48.  Add receipts: Taxes $207,193.19; Interest $881.19; Other local $111.80; State $60,176.00; Federal $0.00;   Total to be accounted for:  $1,121,691.66;  less disbursements $149,546.75;  Cash balance: $972,144.91;   Fund balance: $972,144.91.
CAPITAL OUTLAY beginning balance: $362,694.23.  Add receipts: Taxes $123,569.63; Other local $0.00; Total to be accounted for: $486,263.86;  less disbursements $12,732.10;   Cash balance: $473,531.76;   Fund balance:  $473,531.76.
SPECIAL EDUCATION beginning balance: $182,949.27. Add receipts:  Taxes $69,200.61;  Other Local $0.00;  State $0.00;  Federal $0.00;  Total to be accounted for: $252,149.88;   less disbursements $10,969.87;  Cash balance: $241,180.01;    Fund balance: $241,180.01.
PENSION beginning balance: $135,982.08. Add receipts: Taxes $14,832.25; Total to be accounted for: $150,814.33; less disbursements $0.00. Fund balance: $150,814.33.
FOOD SERVICE beginning balance: $18,279.44. Add receipts: Pupil receipts $4,136.00;  Adult receipts $263.00. Milk receipts $40.60; Ala’Carte receipts $1,003.60; Interest $.73;  Other local $0.00;  State $0.00;  Federal reimbursement $6,077.58; Total to be accounted for: $29,800.95; less disbursements $11,218.67; Cash  balance: $18,582.28; Fund balance: $18,582.28.
ENTERPRISE FUND #53:  beginning balance:  $12,062.82.  Add receipts: Local $935.00;   less disbursements $1,316.46;  Fund balance:  $11,681.36.
TRUST AND AGENCY beginning balance: $22,814.57.  Add receipts: Interest $1.27;  Pupil activities $19,331.82; Held for others; $823.24;  Total to be accounted for: $42,970.90; less disbursements $1,958.76; Fund balance $41,012.14.
Salaries and benefits for the month of November 2012 were as follows:
General Fund: $84,933.58
Special Education:  $7099.64
Enterprise Fund #53:  $1,316.46
Food Service:  $4,402.00
General Fund
A-Ox Welding, Cylinder Lease 35.00
AT&T, Cell Phone Bill 150.48
Bsn Sports, Referee Shirts – Scorekeepers 22.00
City of Woonsocket, Water Service 61.00
Darin’s Market, Supplies 267.47
Express Stop Gas – Vehicles/Mini-Bus/Mower 763.11
Firesteel Service, Tire – Mini-Bus 242.57
Foreman Sales & Service, Inc., Regular Route (4,047) Co-Curricular (84) 9,823.51
Hauff Mid-America Sports, Inc., Basketballs 411.90
Heil Electric, Supplies – Service Calls 618.56
[Imprest Fund November Claims 290.00
Region Five Band, Music Feistval Fee $20.00
US Post Office, Postage Expense $135.00
US Post Office, Postage Expense $135.00
Total Imprest Claims: $290.00]
J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc., Vocal Music 91.29
Jostens, Diploma Covers 85.52
KO’s Pro Service, Vehicle Maintenance/Shop Supplies 97.61
Napa Auto Parts, Vehicle Maintenance/Building Supplies  119.71
Northwest Pipe Fittings, Boiler Parts 27.18
NorthWestern Public Service, Electric Service 2,407.36
Petty Cash, Postage Expense 5.30
Reader’s Den, Library Books 53.55
Sanborn County Treasurer, First Aid/Defibrillator Supplies 178.73
Sanborn Weekly Journal, Publications 95.36
Santel Communications, Phone/Cable/Internet 281.41        South Dakota Department of Health, Contracted Nurse Services 140.00
South Dakota High School Activities Association, Journalism Dues 31.00
Selland, Crystal, Mileage – Business Meeting 29.40
Waste Management of Huron, Garbage Service 559.99            Weber, Rodrick  Reimbursement – Cell Phone 158.99
West River Foundation, Conference Registration – P. Lynch 175.00
Wheelers Business Products, PrinterPart/Cartridges – Library 103.98
Youngblood, Lumber-Shop/Some Reimburseed By Students 492.78
Fund Total: 17,819.76
Capital Outlay
A&B Business Equipment, Copier Lease/Supplies 873.90
First National Bank SD, Qzab Bond Payment 3,333.33
First National Bank, Interest Payment On Capital Outlay Certificate 13,345.00
Midwest Boiler Repair, Boiler Repairs/Inspection 9,528.11
Fund Total: 27,080.34
Special Education
Avera St. Lukes, Client Services 1,015.56
Parent/Guardian, Parent/Guardian Mileage 159.10
Jenssen, Gloria, Student Transportation 40.00
Spurs, Client Services 150.00        Fund Total: 1,364.66
Food Service
Ameripride Services, Laundry Service 12.95
Chemical Sanitizing Systems, Dishwasher Rent/Chemical 194.20
Child and Adult Nutrition, Food 545.36
Cwd, Food/Supplies 1,652.28
Darin’s Market, Supplies 13.45
Earthgrains Company, Food 60.20
Variety Food, Food/Supplies 2,816.87
Fund Total: 5,295.31
Chris Selland gave the financial report. The new general fund opt-out amount will be starting with January 2012 taxes and the reduction in Capital Outlay (from $2.50 per $1,000 of valuation to $2.00) and Special Education (from $1.40 per $1,000 of valuation to $1.00)  levies will also start in January 2012.
Superintendent Weber advised that the winter sports season with basketball and wrestling is underway and off to a good start. He discussed the Governors address as it pertained to education funding for FY2014, with expectations that the Legislature could approve funding increases based on current state statute. We would still be funded at levels per student several hundred dollars less than the 2010 per pupil allocation (due to the 6.6 percent cut in FY2012 and very minimal increase in FY2013).
The lunch program was discussed briefly with further discussion to be held at the January meeting.
Principal Paula Lynch advised that the Christmas craft fair had been organized and the Elementary Parent’s Club was planning their “Merry Mixing Day” for December 19th.
Motion was made by Darrin Uttecht, with a second by Jason White, to approve the purchase of new band percussion equipment for the band and the newly-formed drumline core at a cost of approximately $8,249.50. Motion carried.  The source of funding for the equipment consists of:  Federal reap grant to the district in the amount of $5,438.00, Band fundraising from the marching band concert/lasagna feed in the amount of $1,701 and a donation from the Booster Club of $1,110.50. Motion carried. The District and Mr. Kroeger would like to thank the public and Booster Club for their generous support of this project. The Sanborn Central Band will be purchasing a similar amount of equipment and the drumline will be a joint one between the two schools.
Motion was made by Jason White, with a second by Darrin Uttecht, to approve Neil Putnam as the District’s vote for Associated School Boards of South Dakota Southeastern Region Board of Directors.  Motion carried.
Due to a conflict with the 281 Girl’s Basketball Tournament on January 14th, the regular board meeting will be held on January 14th, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. This change was approved on a motion by Todd Olinger, with a second by Jason White.  Motion carried.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the December 10th, 2012 regular meeting of the Woonsocket Board of Education was officially adjourned at 7:35 p.m. on a motion made by Gary Steichen, with a second by Darrin Uttecht. Motion carried.
GARY STEICHEN
Vice Chair
CRYSTAL A.
SELLAND
Business Manager

By Alyx Baysinger and Jaedyn Ford
Being a student, you never want to come to school afraid to walk through the doors or to stroll down the hallway toward a classroom. Because, it is here at school, where many students feel important, safe and connected to their environment. It is here at school where many students feel that their world is comfortable, controllable and normal; it is here at school where many students’ futures are possible and waiting for them to arrive. Yet, today, after the incidences that occurred at the close of last week, school had a different feel to it.
When we emerged from our cars, we first looked around. We paused and turned when a car door slammed shut. We jumped when others shouted: “Hey!” Today, when we met in the commons and walked to our classes, we did not smile or talk as much to each other. Today, we simply went through the motions as if something strange was in the air, as if something a little less comforting was near, as if something stole away a little slice of academic peace from us.
When school shootings happen, I suppose it makes more of an impact on elementary students than high school students – still it is impacting on all of us, in some way or another. A school shooting can happen anywhere, at any time and truthfully that thought is the most unsettling thing. After school shootings happen, kids react differently to each other and to certain noises, because how does anyone know if they are truly safe from harm?
We never know why people do certain harmful and hurtful things; we just know that we are unsettled and affected by what wicked people do. We also know that unless we communicate about what affects us, then we will never be at peace. The more that we communicate, the greater the chance that our feelings can be changed and other’s perspectives can be altered. Also, with communication, the better the chance that an occurrence like the one that took place last Friday will not happen again – well, at least we hope.
Parents always have a difficult time sending their kids off to school. It seems like each year as children get a little older, parents want to hold onto their child a little tighter. But in truth, kids go to school and from school every day, and nothing bad really happens. But unfortunately, every once in a while there is a tragedy.  Parents see the news and hope that their child was not involved or that their child will not be affected by the tragedy. Yet in truth, we, both parents and children, here in Woonsocket, will never be able to understand the pain that the Connecticut parents, children and communities are feeling today. And hopefully we never will.
Shamefully, we feel relieved that the shooting took place many miles and many states away from us. We can only experience their pain from a television set. We cannot fully understand what it would have been like to receive that call that there had been a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School – what is now known as the second-deadliest shooting in United State’s history.
Can you image sitting while slowly letting the varying possibilities of your child’s fate sink in, or waiting for the final news of your child’s fate? Or that today, your child was taken by a gunman carrying two 9mm handguns and a rifle, who killed 20 children and seven adults, one being his own mother? In truth, he took away 20 young lives who should have grown up with the same chance that all of us have: to positively change the world around us. That is why I went to school today, to positively change the world around me, but unfortunately 20 children in Connecticut will never be given that same chance.

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