The Super Search Begins

The Kimball School Board opened its special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16 and adjourned in just 10 minutes. Only two items were on the agenda to be discussed and considered, but one was of great importance.

The first item that the six board members discussed was the approval of a contract with the National Association of School Boards to conduct a search for a superintendent to replace Elizabeth Owens, who plans to step down July 1.

The search will establish a timeline, and NASB will discuss with the district the attributes that are desired. In addition, NASB will advertise and post the vacancy, manage the application process, screen applicants and perform background checks.

This search will cost the district $3,000, plus expenses and an additional $495 for advertising with the Education Week news organization.

The search this year is the same basic search that was conducted two years ago when the district hired Owens.

In her Dec. 5 resignation letter, Owens said she was leaving for family reasons. She said her husband is facing medical issues and she needs to be in their South Dakota home to help him.

Meanwhile, in the board’s second order of business Monday, the number of copies of the new science textbook from McGraw Hill, changed a bit due to a larger class that was unaccounted for and for the addition of more physics textbooks. The total price rose from $48,572 from $47,515.