Some Rapid City School District board members say they are unsure whether the board will continue with a management study that began three years ago, in light of recent budget problems and frustration with how the study was executed.

"I don't think the board is interested in going any further at this time," Board member Wes Storm said of a contract with Technology & Innovation in Education (TIE), a local firm hired to conduct a leadership and management study of the district's organizational and delivery systems.

The firm initially was contracted for 30 days of work at $15,000. Another week of work was added for $3,000 and a second contract was added for 2007 for 49 days of work at $26,681.

Board member Eric Abrahamson, who will complete his term on the board next month, will meet with TIE officials Friday. Storm and Bret Swanson, who will take Abrahamson's seat, met with TIE officials Monday.

"I seriously doubt if the board has any interest in continuing," Abrahamson said. "(The study) has not given us the information that I hoped it would give the board, which has been very frustrating. I still believe it was a good idea, I just don't think the execution has been very helpful."

TIE executive director Jim Parry could not be reached for comment Tuesday and Wednesday.

Swanson said the recommendations TIE provided make sense, but they might not be realistic now with the budget changes.

"Everything's in limbo right now," he said. "I think, in the end, this could end up saving money, but it's hard to say anything anymore."

Swanson worries that stopping the audit midway could jeopardize what the district has already invested.

"What made this particularly frustrating is that it was started before we went through this budgetary (process)," he said, because some of the recommendations might have been different.

He's not sure what the board will decide.

"I would say that we need to discuss it again," he said. "Do you want to invest part way and then stop?"

Money is always an issue, he added.

"Everyone's questioning the cost of lunches, let alone a long-term study," he said. "What is fiscally wiser, to continue or not?"

TIE proposed a five-phase plan in June 2006 and began phase one with a look at central administration and what changes might be needed after two-long term employees of the district, Harry Brenden, assistant superintendent of elementary and secondary education, and assistant superintendent for budget and finance Dan Dryden, left.

"The first part helped us transition as we lost a couple of longtime senior members of district staff and new people came in," said board member Eric Abrahamson.

Board members became frustrated during the second phase of the study, which was a look at how central administration works with building-level management and makes sure leadership has a shared vision.

"I don't think it's been done in a timely manner and not as helpful to the board as it could have been," Abrahamson said.

In the board's last meeting with TIE officials in February, board President Sheryl Kirkeby said she wondered whether the district was getting what it paid for.

Parry said TIE was working on limited resources for the project and wanted to make sure they were doing a thorough audit and could provide valid recommendations.

But Abrahamson said he expected more substance sooner.

"It was my understanding when we began that we were looking for them to help us transition from one generation to another, to help us make changes in structure that would be otherwise difficult," he said. "I thought we would have recommendations by the time new leadership is in place."

TIE representatives were scheduled to present their findings by the end of the school year, but have not yet done so because of scheduling conflicts, Storm said.

"It's as much our fault," Storm said.

Abrahamson said the study was not a top priority when measured against the budget process.

"Decisions needed to be made that had immediate consequence and TIE's work is more strategic, to give guidance to the board as they look to 2009 and 2010 budget, and I think that's why people felt comfortable putting it off," he said.

Presentation of the MGT facilities study was also put off while the district dealt with budget cuts.

"Those two studies address long-range planning, whereas the budget was addressing short range issues," he said.

Swanson said whether they continue with more phases of the TIE study or not, he doesn't want what has been done wasted.

"My biggest fear is that it gets shelved," he said. "You put in time; you put in money. You bounce good ideas around and then you just forget them; there's potential for that."

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com