Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
With the school year winding down, the Kimball Public Schools staff and school board addressed issues at Monday’s board meeting that will affect next year and beyond.
Activities Director Ken Smith recapped the number of participants in activities this year and explained what the plan is to get more students to participate. Activities include FFA, music, sports, cheer, play production,and speech.
The ninth grade class has 29 students, and 21 of them participated in one or more activities, with music being the most popular for all students. The ninth grade had 72% participation, and the 10th grade had 70% of students participate. Only 58% of the students in 11th grade participated in one or more activities, and 89% of seniors were involved in an activity.
Smith said all coaches will put on a youth camp to encourage interest in their sport, and a meeting with all the activity sponsors will focus on a weight program and standards and expectations.
In a presentation to the board, English 9 students Grace Anderson and Aaron Gillming explained their 20 Time assignment, “It’s more than Just Tractors and Cows.” Mrs. Heidemann’s students created an outreach project. Grace and Aaron’s project introduced FFA to the Elite after school program with demonstrations ranging from welding with frosting and graham crackers to introducing baby piglets to students.
Action was taken to approve a contract for Katherine Robinson as an upper elementary reading teacher. The board approved the naming of the Main Gym Floor “Tom and Karen Southard Court” in honor of long-time Observer sportswriter Tom Southard and his statistician and wife, Karen.
The board also voted to approve Kimball schools to enter into an interlocal agreement for Panhandle Beginnings Therapeutic Day School. The facility is in its second year and will educate and treat grades 3-8. The day school is geared for high-needs behavioral students for generally 60-90 days. The board voted to approve the all-inclusive option for five years.
The board was pleased with the number of participants completing the facilities survey. After a discussion, the board believed a clear message appeared that the residents wanted to update the facilities somehow. Their next step is to contact the needed companies and provide quotes for different options – an addition or renovation.
With no action taken on changing the grading policy, the discussion was lengthy. A few years ago, Kimball changed its grading policy to a modified 10 point scale, and now discussion to change it back to a 7 or 6 point scale was on the agenda. Currently, 65% is passing and 65% to 69% is considered a D, yet 70% is the eligibility requirement for participation in extracurricular activities.