Third kindergarten teacher hired

The Kimball Board of Education approved a new contract for Kelli Patterson at a special meeting held last Thursday in the district’s office at the high school.

Patterson, formerly a teacher at Kimball Public Schools, was hired to fill the third kindergarten teacher position.

As previously discussed at the last board of education meeting, this position will be flexible, allowing Patterson to teach other grades as needed in future years.

Originally a board work session, the special meeting was called specifically so action could be taken on the offered contract. However, the board continued with their work session priorities as well.

Superintendent Marshall Lewis presented a board calendar for review. The calendar includes dates that are pertinent to board members, and the completion of the calendar was one of the goals the board had previously set.

“We decided that we wanted to have a board calendar that gives us an idea of what happens on a monthly basis,” Lewis stated. “Basically its a monthly run-down of what we do in each month.”

Though the calendar is not final, it is the format business manager Harold Farrar has used for review, though he said, “Some of it needs to be tweaked.”

Lewis also presented a possible change to board proceedings to the board that could streamline the meetings.

“We have traditionally like to have a loose setting,” Lewis said.

Lewis said the board may want to consider formatting the meeting so that anyone who wishes to speak would be required to sign up to do so prior to the meeting.

“In a positive situation, it’s fine,” Lewis said. “But if we don’t shut it down in a positive situation, a negative situation is going to come.”

Lewis recommended that no one, other than board members, should speak unless addressed by the board president and further suggested that a time limit be determined.

“It’s a meeting of the board in the public, not of the public,” Lewis said.

Lewis presented an updated format for the district and board goals, complete with information as steps are taken towards each goal.

“I think it is a good communication tool to you guys,” Lewis said. “Maybe we can bring something like this to you quarterly.”

Board members discussed reviewing the document at work sessions instead of in the regular meetings as well as highlighting new developments on the document.

Lewis also said that the board’s goal concerning chain of command should be reviewed as he does not want to have to add a line to the goal document each time that issue arises.

“This past week I have probably redirected seven calls that have come my direction,” Lewis said. “They need to either see a teacher, principal or director of transportation. I don’t want to go in (to the document) each time I redirect.”

Lewis further questioned if the document should even be updated when the board must redirect, and while he is struggling to decide which information needs to be updated on the goal document, he added that single board members cannot fix issues brought to them.

“At the same time, is that really necessary to put into a document? It’s going to be a learning experience and we will get through it,” Lewis said. “The reality is that not one of you guys can do anything. All of the action happens here (in meetings).”

The building and grounds committee update considered the condition of the grounds following discussion at the last meeting. Board member Jarrod Schnell said that he visited some of the areas of concern and found that the concerns voiced at that meeting were valid.

Members considered which areas were priority, and Lewis said that the red rock beds are in terrible condition and that the grounds will need to be readied for the May 16 graduation.

Board member Clint Cornils stated that a family has made plans to improve the center island on the west side of the junior/senior high school, but Lewis said that the project will not begin until the fall.

The board discussed at length the cost of maintaining busses and bussing students compared to paying parents for transportation and options for maintaining the most economical transportation system possible.

Heating and air conditioning has been considered for quite some time. Bids were due at 2 p.m. that day, and Lewis updated the board regarding those bids.

“We talked a little bit about if low bid is our best bid,” Lewis said. “At this point I am pretty optimistic.”

Schnell asked if any of the bids came from companies in the region. To that end, the board reviewed several competitive bids for that job.

Ben Schmitt, an engineer with Specialized Engineering Solutions of Sidney, developed specifications for the job. Schmitt will seek further information about the bids as well for a future update to the board prior to any decisions being made.

“We do plan on approving it at the May 11 board meeting if it looks really good,” Lewis said.