BROOKINGS Keli Books has announced her resignation from the Brookings School Board.
Books, who currently serves as associate vice president for development at the South Dakota State University Foundation, has accepted the position of vice president for advancement at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The board met via Zoom on Wednesday morning to approve Books’s resignation.
Books taught elementary school for nine years in the Brookings School District before accepting the job at the SDSU Foundation.
She will be making the move to Nebraska with her family. Her husband Peter has been a school superintendent and has served in public education for 20 years in South Dakota. The couple has two daughters Stella, 11, currently enrolled at Mickelson Middle School and Nellie, 8, who is a second-grader at Hillcrest.
Her last day at the SDSU Foundation will be Nov. 21, and she will assume her duties at UNK on Jan. 20.
She and her family have been Brookingsresidents for over 20 years.
It has been an honor to serve this district, and we have accomplished so much together, Books wrote in her resignation letter. Our family has been blessed by Brookings. Our daughters have flourished, supported by exceptional teachers, coaches, mentors, and friends. Brookings will always hold a special place in our hearts.
On leaving Brookings, she said, “It’s really sad, but I’m really excited for what’s next for our family.”
Books was in the middle of her second term on the board. While on the board, she helped the district pass a $32.4 million bond to build a new Hillcrest Elementary and expand Medary Elementary. In her letter, she wrote, “As part of a broader $68 million investment in Brookings children, it was a privilege to work with our Facilities Committee and construction teams on this effort. These schools now stand as beautiful, student-centered spaces that will serve our community for generations.
In her letter she also wrote, “Another meaningful part of my service was advancing the Brookings Early Child Care Collaborative. The impact of this work in supporting young families, strengthening the workforce, and expanding access to quality early learning will benefit Brookings for decades, and I am grateful to have been part of it. “
She said she is also proud of her part in the hiringSuperintendent Summer Schultz. “She is absolutely a dynamo, rock star superintendent, who fights for the best things for kids.”
She said she also appreciated the professionalism of her colleagues on the board. “Brookings is really lucky to always have professional board members … I’ve learned so much from them professionally and just really enjoyed being part of the Brookings School District.
In her resignation letter, Books wrote, “I extend sincere appreciation to board members past and present, including Teresa Binkley, Van Fishback, and Melissa Heermann, and to my current colleagues, Deb DeBates, Teri Johnson, Cassie Juba, and Wes Tschetter, for their dedication and partnership. We have not always agreed, but we remained focused on what matters most: the children of this community.”
In a news release from the school district, Schultz said, Keli has been a thoughtful, forward-looking leader for our district. Her commitment to facilities planning and early childhood expansion reflects a deep understanding of what strengthens both students and the community.
School Board President Debra DeBates added, Keli has been a valued board member. Her dedication and commitment to the students and staff of our district were always evident. Keli served on the finance committee and the facilities committee at a very demanding time as the district built our two new elementary schools. She was a powerful advocate for the early childhood centers. We appreciate her leadership and service, and we wish her the best as she transitions to a new position and a new community.
Books offered advice to the board, hopig it continues to be a strong advocate for children’s needs.
She she supports the plan to build a new public safety facility near the Medary Elementary and she thinks it would be a great community asset there.
“I hope that the board is really strong in its thoughtful relationship with the city of Brookings and that we continue to be as strong as we can … that we represent the children of our community and we represent their voice really strongly,” Books said.
She also said she would like to see the school district shouldgo to a bond issue to pay for the proposed renovations to the science facilities at Brookings High School.
“I just think that going to bond is probably one of the best decisions we can do instead of trying to fix pieces going forward,” she said. In her resignation letter, she wrote: “This facility deserves investment worthy of our students and teachers, and as the community has demonstrated in the past, Brookings will rise to support education when a clear, responsible vision is presented.”
Another issue Books wants the board to address is funding for early childhood education.
“I urge the board to make a substantial, sustainable, and long-term investment in early childhood,” she wrote. “Research proves that high-quality early learning strengthens school readiness, enhances long-term academic and social outcomes, and supports workforce stability for families.”
She said there is some unfinished business, but she trusts the board’s decisions moving forward.
According to a UNK release, in her new job Books will lead UNKs major gift strategy and alumni engagement, and champion UNKs role in Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our Universitys Future,an effort to encourage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billionto support all campuses of the University of Nebraska.
The Brookings School Board will move forward with the process to fill the vacancy created by Bookss departure.
Contact Doug Kott at [email protected].
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