Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Kimball School Board Also Moves Ahead On Softball Cooperative With Gering
Kimball’s first-year agricultural education teacher’s resignation letter was accepted at the June 10 Kimball School Board meeting.
After accepting Emily Sowards’s resignation, the following action item was the approval of Monica Jenson’s contract as the agricultural education teacher for the 2024-25 school year. Jenson, formerly Monica Wasielewski, is a Kimball Public Schools graduate.
With finances always a concern, it was noted that they saw an increase in receipts from the courthouse, SPED money and state aid that helped the June budget numbers.
According to Trevor Anderson’s superintendent report, 57% of the budget has been spent with 75% of the fiscal year completed. Hence, 25% of year remaining and 42% of budget is unspent. The actual year-to-date expenditures are $6,720,993 compared to last year’s $7,144,699. The current cash balance in the general fund is $3,546,732.
Mary Lynch Elementary School Principal Amanda Culek presented some data from Dibbles and Ideas for Improvement.
Improvement ideas for Reading include continuing to prioritize foundational skills, focusing on changes made in the 3rd-4th grade levels to ensure a decline does not exist, and increasing consistency for instructional practices aligning phonic practices.
Action items for the school board included a short discussion on an approved item from last month, the softball cooperative.
After approving the softball cooperative with Gering last month, the board had to adopt a Softball Cooperative Resolution for three years. The vote was 4-1, with President Travis Cook voting nay and Vice President Jennifer Griebel absent.
Concerns were discussed regarding games in which players are excused, game schedules and travel time. Individuals participating in the softball cooperative will not be allowed to leave school early.
At this point, the softball cooperative with Gering affects just one Kimball student: JaLeigh Bohac, who will be a high school freshman next year and has achieved success on the softball diamond.
Meanwhile, in compliance with state statute, the school board approved the staff training resolution for next school year. Required training includes fire drills, intruder drills, and anti-bullying, along with safe seizure school, blood-borne pathogens, and asthma/Epipin. Also requiring staff training are behavioral awareness, dating violence prevention, suicide prevention and concussion awareness. Finally, transportation staff must be trained in pupil transportation drivers, along with Title IX positions requiring training in anti-harassment and discrimination.
A number of board policies also were reviewed and approved, from parental involvement to option enrollment and student fees.
The next school board meeting will be July 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the transit building.