Kimball summer school deemed a 'success'

Summer school was a success, the Kimball Board of Education was told at its Aug. 10 meeting.

Jamie Soper, director of special services for the district reported that summer school was a success with 27 attending the math jumpstart and 30 for the reading program at the elementary level.

“Our numbers in junior high were a little bit down this summer with eight in math and five in reading,” Soper said.

Soper said the change in dates for the summer school session was met with enthusiasm and seemed to work well for teachers and students.

“Attitudes were a lot different. It seemed like kids were refreshed and teachers were refreshed,” Soper said. “I had several parents come up to me and say what a difference it made.”

Soper is looking forward to continue blended learning this year, and she said she is looking forward to the technology committee’s recommendation for recording classes as well.

“I am still on that bandwagon and continue to push for it,” Soper added.

The district currently has 70 students enrolled in special education for this school year, a number that is slightly increased form last year, according to Soper.

“One of the positives for this summer, is that, we have a few students in our district that are verified with autism or that are on the spectrum, and I applied for a grant this summer for Rethink Autism - which is about a $1,000 program,” she said. “We actually got a grant to service these kids. It is a great program, not only for providers but also it gives resources for parents as well. My staff is really excited about that. It also provides free professional development for that as well.”

The board considered a request from Jacob Hoffman, vocal music teacher, regarding out of state travel for the high school show choir.

The vocal music class was presented with an opportunity to perform the national anthem live at a Denver Nuggets professional basketball game some months ago.

“The Nuggets accept four schools every year to come in and perform the national anthem. It started as part of the National Anthem Project, about seven or eight years ago.” Hoffman said. “Last year we sent in an audition and we did get onto the list, but we were quite a ways down the list.”

This year Hoffman sent in a preliminary audition to get the district’s name on the list, and he has been told that Kimball is at the top of the list this year.

The Nuggets organization will send a list of game dates from which the district may choose, Hoffman said. Once the date is chosen, funds for travel and lodging will need to be in place and arrangements will be made.

Students would be required to purchase game ticket on their own, with varied prices depending on the seating as well as which teams are playing.

“What I would ask of the school district in terms of contribution would be transportation to the event and if possible to do hotel rooms for the kids,” Hoffman said.

The plan is to assign four students to each room and with sponsors and drivers, and he said nine or 10 rooms would be necessary.

“I think it sounds like a great idea and a great opportunity,” board president Lynn Vogel said.

The board approved the request to cover all appropriate costs for the trip.

Prior to adjourning, the board announced that though the meeting to swear in new members was originally planned to be at city hall, the location has been changed to the high school library as the meeting room was already booked for Aug. 24.