The Belle Fourche School Board held its monthly meeting on Monday, April 14. The meeting began with open forum, during which one audience member stood and talked about the need for clarification regarding policy on volunteers within the athletic department.
The board then recognized Athletic Director Adam Nowowiejski for achieving the SDIAAA Region 8 Athletic Director of the Year award. Nowowiejski went on to recognize Belle Fourche’s Team All-Conference winners. “I’m always looking at different ways to essentially recognize our kids for their accomplishments, and I really thought it was a good idea to start putting these kids in front of you guys as the board,” he said. Winter Sports All-Conference Award winners included members of the girls’ basketball team, boys’ basketball team, and the wrestling team. Girls’ basketball team winners included Reagan Hatling, Kailey Nowowiejski, and Lily Nore; boys’ basketball team winners were Harvey Walding, Sern Weishaar, and Jet Jensen; and wrestling team winners were Cooper Conry, Kyra Vandenberg, Riley Dighton, and Owyn Schreder.
Student Council senior class representative Owyn Schreder reported that the student council was once again chosen for the Outstanding Student Council award this year. The council raised $250 for the local Children’s Miracle Network in Rapid City, and its Spring Blood Drive is scheduled for May 7 and will start booking appointments soon.
High School principal Mathew Raba reported that prom went well. Juniors took the SD Assessment on April 7-9 and put in a lot of time toward testing. A Finance Park Simulation was held April 15 in the High School gym with over 20 volunteers from the community in attendance to make it happen. The Youth Leadership Team will host its 3rd annual Enrichment Day on April 25. Senior Awards Night will be May 15 at 7 p.m. and graduation is set for May 17 at 10 a.m.
Middle School principal Kevin Smidt reported that of 27 M.S. students attending the Regional Science Fair at School of Mines on March 25, ten students came away with awards. The Math & Science Club traveled to Florida on April 1-5. The Chess Club traveled to Sioux Falls on April 5-6 to compete in the SD Chess Championship and emerged as State Champions once again this year, and eighth-grader Jackson Tucker tied for first place. On April 23, 8th graders will travel to Rapid City to tour Western Dakota Tech.
Elementary principal Julie Hatling reported that STEAM Night at South Park was very well attended. The event featured science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities. 3rd and 4th grade ELA and Math assessments will be April 22-25. The PTO Carnival is coming up on May 2.
Caleb Case, Special Education Director, reported that they are currently making Extended School Year (ESY) arrangements. Case is also in the process of communicating with special education teachers about the self-monitoring requirements of the Results Driven Accountability (RDA) model.
Adam Nowowiejski reported that MS and HS track and girls’ golf are in full swing. The HS girls’ first golf invite is Monday, April 14 at the Belle Fourche Country Club. The directors, cast, and crew for the 2025 musical Grease have been working hard to put on a great show for the school and community, and will be putting on 3 performances starting April 25 at 7 p.m.
Facilities and Transportation Director Tommy Coyle reported that the discus cage at the high school has been replaced; the fence along the southwest corner of the practice field at the high school has been replaced; the new sound system at the high school has been completed; and the new scoreboard, message board and shot clock replacement project has been completed.
Superintendent Orion Thompson reported that he has attended several committee and administrative meetings and is continually meeting with administration on opening, building needs, staffing changes, and more. Additionally, the Flexible Framework Project is starting to take shape and they hope to see it in place soon to begin the next steps.
March Students of the Month were honored. 5th Grade: Twila Williamson and Hayden Allart; 6th Grade: Elizabeth Nikodym and Toryn Bertolotto; 7th Grade: Hayden Kidd and Jared Homola; and 8th Grade: Kylie Frisbie and Payton Richardson.
The next School Board meeting will be May 5.
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