School Programs For Foster Grandparents And Graduate Jobs Proposed For Kimball

On Monday evening, the Kimball School Board heard presentations on two programs under consideration – the JAG Nebraska and the Foster Grandparent programs. The board will discuss and consider the possible implementation of the programs in the next few months.

JAG is Jobs for American Graduates. It is data-driven and evidence based. JAG students master academic and employability skills, practice leadership, interpersonal and community service engagement.

JAG supplies the teacher and curriculum. There is no expense to the district for two years. On the third year, the district has to provide $10,000 to help fund the program. The program is funded through United Way of the Midlands.

In addition, the Foster Grandparents program was introduced to the board during the public comment period. The area program director will return at the next board meeting to clarify information and hope to receive the OK for the program to be implemented.

Danessa Terrill, food service director, gave an overview of the food service to the Kimball School Board. Terrill shared info about her program, “Feed the Children Fund,” which started after the loss of a food service employee and that individual’s dedication to feeding all the kids whether or not they had money in their account.

This employee would just pay for the food herself. After she stepped down from her position and eventually passed away last year, Terrill took donations and the fund is for kids that don’t have any money in their accounts. Currently, the fund has about $500.

Terrill also started a small garden at Mary Lynch Elementary School and uses the veggies to supplement the lunch program there. The garden has cucumbers, tomatoes and pumpkins. She said the kids love the cucumbers and tomatoes.

The food service program includes breakfast, lunch, a special milk program, a morning snack for K-3rd, the After-School Elite program, and the summer program, which includes breakfast and lunch. Terrill said that 50% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunches in the district.

The challenges for Terrill include the continuing rising prices and maintaining a full staff.

Under agenda action items, the board approved the adoption of the Option Enrollment Capacity Resolution, the Mary Lynch roof repair quote, and the approval of the Mary Lynch playground proposal.

Superintendent Trevor Anderson’s financial update reported that 8.36% of the budget had been spent with 8% of the fiscal year completed. The actual year-to-date expenditures are $724,915.68, down from last year’s $1,119,024.61. The current cash in the general fund is $3,070,143.03.

Students serving on the Superintendent Advisory Committee for 2023-24 are Aspyn Kiefer, Julia Winstrom, Kyler Lusche, Renee Murdoch, Nolan Cook, Aubrey Culek, Wyatt Cook, Carly Norberg, Miles Anderson, Karsyn Chesley, Mason Brown and Kendyl Reich.

The next regular board meeting will be Monday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Kimball County Transit Service.