Resignations Accepted At Milbank School Board Meeting

The Milbank School District Board of Education approved several staff resignations and contract adjustments at a special meeting of the board Monday, March 7. The board accepted the resignation of Koch School Principal Tim Lease. Lease and his family will relocate to Brookings, South Dakota. (See additional story here on The Valley Express.)

The school board accepted the resignation of Joe Frederikson as head girls basketball coach. Joe began his teaching career in Milbank in 2005. He was an assistant girls basketball coach for five years before taking over the reins as head coach in 2010. “We thank him for his dedication and years of service to the program,” stated Superintendent Tim Graf.
“I’m honored by the opportunity I had to be the head coach of the Lady Bulldogs for the past six years,” said Frederiksen. “I want to thank the administration for giving me the chance to be their head coach. Thank you also to past and present players for all the great memories. Once a Bulldog – always a Bulldog.”

The resignation of Natasha Hartman was also accepted during the meeting. She has been the English and Language Arts instructor at the high school level and the head debate coach for the past two years. She has accepted a position at Harrisburg High School and will move to Sioux Falls.
Hartman said, “Thank you for the opportunity to work in the Milbank School District. These two years have allowed me to learn and grow as a teacher as well as form bonds with students that make it difficult to leave. I have truly enjoyed working with, teaching, and getting to know my students. I will always be thankful for the support that I have received at MHS.”

The board approved a supplemental contract for Miriam Schwenn for her assisting role in directing the upcoming spring musical. “We only have a musical every other year, so we have not had this on Mrs. Schwenn’s regular contract,” explained Mr. Graf.

The remainder of the special board meeting took place in executive session to work on negotiations and personnel issues. The next regular meeting of the school board will be Tuesday, March 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the central office board room.