The biggest news to come out of the relatively short United South Central School Board meeting on Tuesday, May 17, was the resignation of middle school social studies teacher Brandon Neseth, effective at the end of the current school year.

In addition to his teaching duties, Neseth has been the head coach of the Rebels’ football team since 2016 and led USC to their first-ever State Tournament appearance in 2018.

Neseth is also the head coach for the USC softball team and has helped coach basketball.

He will be taking a teaching position at Triton Schools and will be at the helm of the Cobras’ varsity football team beginning this fall.

Elementary principal Jennifer Taylor reported the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments have been completed. These tests are used to meet federal and state legislative requirements in reading, mathematics and science.

“We were also very fortunate to have speaker Joe Beckman come to our school,” Taylor shared. “He spoke about the importance of connecting with others and also encouraged the students to be ‘difference makers’ instead of ‘difference takers.'”

Taylor also reported the number of students in grades K-6 is now at 370.

“That is up quite a bit from the previous quarter,” she noted.

She also talked about activities occurring in the last few weeks of school.

“We have lots of field trips planned before the school year ends,” she commented. “I know the kids are excited to get out and enjoy these events.”

High school principal Julie Stauber reported the Service and Wellness Day, which was held on May 4, was a big success.

“The kids did a good job,” Stauber said. “They accomplished a lot.”

Stauber also had nothing but praise for the 2022 Prom held on May 7.

“It was very well-organized and the students were very well-behaved, she remarked.

She also reported Honors Day had been celebrated earlier in the day and many students had been awarded some nice scholarships.

In regards to the scholarships, board chair Mike Schrader shared $23,000 had been raised from the recently held Price is Right fundraiser.

“Finally, I am pleased to announce Meredith Klingbeil as our Renaissance Student of the Month for May,” Stauber concluded.

Superintendent Keith Fleming updated the board on progress at the State legislature.

“It is the final week of the session and the House and Senate have an agreement on a framework for the budget,” Fleming noted. “Now, the question is if they can get it passed before they adjourn on this coming Sunday.”

Student School Board representative Lillian Neubauer, a senior, sent her regrets that she could not be there for her last meeting as a member of the board.

“I want to thank the board for the opportunity to serve on the board. I learned many things I will take with me through my life,” she wrote in a letter to the board. “I appreciate and am honored to have been able to represent the students.”

Moving onto business matters, the board approved a shared services agreement with South Central Service Cooperative and the Blue Earth Area School District to fund the cost of Regional Workforce Coordination Services.

Each district will pay a sum in the amount of $13,000 and the contract will run from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

According to the documentation included in the agreement, Regional Workforce Coordination Services provides implementation of career readiness opportunities with multiple school districts.

In other business:

• The board put out a request for milk and bread bids for the 2022-2023 school year.

• Board members had the first reading of revised Board Policies 1010 Legal Status of School District, 1030 Complaints, 2035 School Board Agenda, 2070 Public Hearing, 2100 Conflict of Interest, 3010 School District Administration, 3020 Superintendent, 3030 Superintendent Selection, 3040 Superintendent Contract, 4010 Equal Employment Opportunity, 4020 Disability Nondiscrimination, 4030 Discipline, Suspension, 4080 Subpoena of District Employee, 4190 Tobacco-Free Environment, 5140 Bullying Prohibition Policy, and 5200 Student Surveys.

• The second reading was held for revised Board Policies 6030 Curriculum Development, 6040 Instructional Curriculum, 6050 Alternative Programs, 6060 Textbooks and Instructional Materials, 6070 Organization of Grade Levels, 6080 Instructional Services, Special Education, 6090 Religion, 6110 Home School- ing, 6130 Graduation Requirements, 6140 School District Testing Plan and Procedures, 6150 Testing Accommodations, and 6160 School District System Accountability.