News

It’s that time of year when teachers and school boards sit down to negotiate salaries for the next school year. Here are examples of salaries for the 2013-2014 school year from area schools. The four columns are for a beginning teacher with a Bachelor’s degree; then with a BA and 10 or 15 additional credit hours and 10 years of experience; then with a master’s degree and 10 years; and finally, the top teacher pay in the district.

These are the current year salaries for administrators in area public schools. Information was provided by the school business managers, at the Topic’s request. All salaries, wages and benefits of all school employees are a matter of public record and are published once a year, with employees’ names.

South Dakota Teacher of the Year LuAnn Lindskov of Isabel, who teaches at Timber Lake School, was honored January 29 at the State Capitol. She is pictured here with Sen. Ryan Maher (R-Isabel).

Fourth Circuit Judge Michael Day heard oral arguments in the Timber Lake School Board eligibility case on Monday but did not pronounce a decision. The parties will submit additional documents and the judge said he will try to render a decision before the filing deadline for the next school board election.

The Mobridge Area Chamber of Commerce is being awarded a little over $11,000 in matching funds from the SD Department of Tourism to implement a new regional marketing campaign in 2014. The Chamber of Commerce moved to a regional focus in 2004 and will use this new opportunity to promote Timber Lake and other communities within 60 miles of Mobridge. Haden Merkel, Executive Director at the Mobridge Area Chamber, is looking forward to the project. “Having the financial ability to better promote our area towns is crucial to building a regional membership base,” explained Merkel. “As an organization, we are working on developing relationships across city and county lines.” Merkel says a strong region is good for all local communities and helps our area compete with other regions in South Dakota.