Huron School Board Member Nichole Yost is one of the first 25 school board members in South Dakota to become certified by the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. Earning certification from the ASBSD’s Governance Academy for Visionary Education Leadership or GAVEL requires school board members to complete 11 hours of standards-based coursework. The training focuses on teaching research-based best practices that prepare board members to effectively govern and provide the leadership needed to improve student achievement. The training Yost and the other 25 certified board members took outline the principles of effective school governance, fiscal responsibility and strategic planning. The first GAVEL class was honored at the ASBSD’s annual awards banquet on August 11th. Two area school board members are also a part of the inaugural class. Willow Lake School District’s Sandra Hovde and Jessica Michalski are also certified.