Category Archives: News

Passing Score for GED Test Recalibrated

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PIERRE, S.D. – GED Testing Services (GEDTS) has announced a recalibration to the GED Test passing score and the addition of two new performance levels.

The passing score for high school equivalency is moving from 150 to 145. The program will also include two optional levels above high school equivalency to signify college readiness.

South Dakota will retroactively apply the new performance levels to test-takers who have tested since Jan. 1, 2014. Students who earn scores between 145-149 prior to the new passing score will be eligible for this high school equivalency credential.

In addition to the 545 South Dakota students who earned a credential since Jan. 1, 2014, an estimated additional 78 will be awarded the credential due to the change in cut score.

GEDTS will notify affected students. All students can expect to see their updated scores and information in their MyGED account on March 1.

The scoring enhancement is a result of detailed analysis of educational outcomes of GED program graduates compared to high school graduates over the past 18 months. The outcomes data show GED graduates are performing as well as, and in many instances outperforming, high school graduates in terms of not needing remediation when entering postsecondary programs.

Democrats’ Minority Status Burdensome, Empowering

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By Dana Hess, Community News Service

PIERRE — With just 20 members in the Legislature—eight in the Senate and 12 in the House—Democrats face constant rejection of the bills they offer. However, being a super-minority can have its benefits said Democratic legislative leaders when they spoke to publishers, editors and reporters at South Dakota Newspaper Association’s Newspaper Day on Thursday.

House Minority Leader Spencer Hawley, D-Brookings, said Democratic legislators needed to make their decision to run for re-election during the session rather than after. “We literally are totally beat down” by the end of the session, Hawley said.

“Even as a super-minority, we have had a huge impact on South Dakota,” said Senate Minority Leader Billie Sutton, Burke.

Sutton noted Democratic support for successful initiated measures in recent elections, including the boost in the state’s minimum wage. He said bills brought by Democrats are routinely defeated, only to return in a slightly different form at a later session as a Republican-sponsored bill.

“I’m fine with that,” Sutton said, as long as good bills are working their way through the Legislature.

Sutton pointed to the ongoing discussion in the current legislative session about Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s proposed half-cent sales tax increase as a funding source to raise teacher pay.

“Guess who’s been banging the drum on that for five years,” Sutton said. “We’re actually the ones fighting for what you want.”

Hawley noted how happy Democrats are to be talking about education funding and the governor’s plan to increase Medicaid.

“We probably agree on more of it than his own party does,” Hawley said.

Political parties in the Legislature traditionally caucus so leaders can direct members on how they want them to vote on certain legislation. South Dakota’s Democrats caucus, but the leaders don’t try to sway their members, according to Hawley.

“We end our caucus with ‘vote your conscience,’” Hawley said.

Bringing the Democratic Party out of super minority status may rely on a constitutional amendment that will be on the 2016 ballot. The measure would take redistricting of legislative districts away from the Legislature and give it to a special commission.

Hawley said the general public should choose how the districts are formed rather than allowing the Legislature to do it. He said this results in legislators choosing their own districts.

“It needs to be a totally separate entity,” Hawley said, “a bi-partisan panel.”

WHS 2nd Quarter Honor Roll

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Seniors
Honor – Molly Connot, Colby Curtis, Kylie Horstman, Dacey Kocer, Devon Leiferman, Karissa Odenbach, Skyler VanDenHul, Korrina Williams, Chase Watson, Grant Winter
Merit – Windsor Barry, Cameron Biggins, Jonas Brill, Calah Covey, Allison Cox, Marcie DeHaan, Sid Durrin, Payton Eagle, Duncan English, Riley Fraizer, Sydney Fritz, Jadyn Gregg, Sam Hossle, Pete Hughes, Luke Jedlicki, Chastin Kemp, Michael Massa, Seth Olson, Lattrel Terkildsen, Cohl Turnquist, Amber Wingert

Juniors
Honor – Chloe Bartels, Drew DeMers, Shannon Duffy, Luke Engel, Nathan Erickson, Wyatt Ewing, Brea Heth, Sydney Hollenbeck, Kenzie Irick, Liz Jankauskas, Chase Kingsbury, Krockett Krolikowski, Cameron Kuil, Abi Leyden, Jayden Schroeder, Sam Schuyler, Molly Sperlich
Merit – Payton Antoine, Trevor Bertram, Amanda Boerner, Sidney Bohnet, Kayleb Brozik, Chet Bryan, Bethany Cable, Aaron Hacecky, Bailey Harter, John Kludt, Kyran Meek, Alex Meiners, Emily Moser, Isaac Naasz, Hannah Peterson, Rachel Sherman, Ryan Sherman, Jordan Turgeon, Jacob Woods

Sophomores
Honor – Dalton Baker, Meredith Calhoon, Riley Calhoon, Ronae Klein, Zach Lapsley, Sam Marts, Lauren Norrid, Charles Novak, Macy Olson, Ian Tunnissen
Merit – Michaela Bachmann, Macie Ferwerda, Justus Gregg, Hannah Hansen, Matthew Hartley, Daesha Klein, Hanna LaCompte, Nick Lantz, Levi McClanahan, Brekkyn Nagel, Lexie Nedved, Alex Schaeffer, Matthew Smither, Nathan Smither, Savannah Vogel

Freshmen
Honor – Bayli Beehler, Sierra Hansen, Gabby Kocer, Katy Lantz, Sophie Lewis, Gracie Littau, Abby Marts, Makenna Peterson, Alexis Richey, Casey Stickland, Andrew Taylor, Madi Thieman, Logan Tunnissen, Brandon Volmer, Teddi Vrbka, Tyson Westendorf, Sadie Woods
Merit – Brielle Bachmann, Elijah Blare, Jeslyn Felix, Luke Hennebold, Natalie McKenzie, Makayla Peterson, AJ Roubideaux, Nolan Sachtjen, Hunter Shopene, Wyatt Turnquist

8th Grade
Honor – Austin Bicek, Jacob Clay, Kiersten Durrin, Kara Ewing, Jaynee Gregg, Morgan Hammerbeck, Emmarie Kaiser, Isabelle Leyden, Ryder Mortenson, Trevor Peters, Addy Root, Saige Schuyler, Kenndal Turnquist
Merit – Joren Bruun, Landon Debus, Jackson Ducheneaux, Phillip Jorgensen, Riley McClanahan, Kameron Meiners, Loren Moeller, Ethan Niehus, Abby Pajl, Shaelyn Peneaux, Dawson Phillips, Heather Rowe, Marlee Schaeffer, Isaac Schramm, Angel Shaw, Charlotte Shopene, Alicia Stands, Ethan Vesely, Gage Watson, Jayd Whitley

7th Grade
Honor – Megan Brozik, Kady Cable, Shannon Calhoon, Evan Farner, Hayley Hanson, Katherine Jankauskas, Mackenzie Levi, Steven Lin, Aryn Meiners, Delanie Nelson, Preston Norrid, Landon Thieman
Merit – Brennan Bachman, Zach Bohnet, Brianna Brickman, Bailey Brown, Jesse Colson, Brady Fritz, Aaron Gilchrist, Jackson Hansen, Taylor Headrick, Dawsyn Kahler, Arista Kaiser, Maggie LaCompte, Aissa Long Crow, Kayla Natoli, Gennefier Schuppan, Marlie Schuyler, Shelby Scott, Deja Thompson

6th Grade
Honor – Finn Bartels, Ellie Brozik, Taralynn Cordier, Jenna Hammerbeck, Emma Jorgensen, Kaden Keiser, Gilon Kraft, Adrienne Lewis, Elvis Lin, Marissa Meiners, Michael Olson, Kaleb Osborn, Kolbie Osborn, Sidda Schuyler, Bella Swedlund, Jackson Vesely
Merit – Parker Baker, Shayla Bice, Adam Bohnet, Alex Bohnet, Joseph Cole, Megan DeHaan, Katie Dreyer, Quintanya Eagle Elk, Skyler Hansen, Raelen Heinzman, Hattie Hespe, Hailey Hollenbeck, Hannah Kaiser, Ashton Klein, Kylar Meek, Aaron Monk, Owen Monk, Alani Old Lodge, Elijah Peterson, Charley Pravecek, Tyeesha Ringing Shield, Kelsey Sachtjen, Ryan Sell, Keyleigh Stands, Caylin Swift Eagle, Trinity Vrbka

Wild Wins Tri Valley Tournament

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winner wild team

The Winner Wild girls basketball team won the Tri Valley tournament on Saturday.
In the first game, Winner defeated Mitchell 35-16.  In the second game, Winner defeated West Central 28-25.  In the third game, Winner defeated Brandon Valley 33-26.

“The girls did a good job as we only had seven girls this weekend and we were tired. They played match up zone to save our legs and played well. They were excited as Brandon Valley beat us by two points two weeks ago,” said Swedlund.

Warriors Win Game over Tri Valley

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leiferman resent

Winner boys basketball team bounced back with a win over Tri Valley in the Dakota State University Classic in Madison on Saturday.
Winner won the game 57-48.  The game was played in two 18 minute halves.

Leading the scoring were Devon Leiferman and Lattrell Terkildsen with 12 points each; Krockett Krolikowski with 10 points and Drew DeMers with 8 points.

Cameron Kuil pulled down 8 rebounds and Leiferman had 7.

Kuil had 3 steals and DeMers, 4 assists.

Wyatt Ewing had one man maker.