Community input considered in search for superintendent

More than a dozen community members, parents and grandparents in the Kimball School District joined Marcia Herring of the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) last Thursday morning at the Kimball High School to talk about the importance of the search for a new superintendent, the strengths and weaknesses of our community and our school.

The local school board asked for assistance from the NASB to search out candidates for the open position, however, it is ultimately up to the School Board to find the best qualified applicants for the job and hire.

Some community members focused on the seeming lack of communication from all sources, including parents, teachers, students and administrators.

Input from those present included qualities such as someone with a positive personality, one who not only shares great ideas but will also follow through on necessary changes.

“When we get more together, we (eventually) crumble,” said Kim Baliman, meaning that when the community finally comes together it somehow begins to fall apart again. She added that schools and communities play off of one other.

“(Lets) hire someone who comes from a small town or an agriculture background,” suggested Mitch Brown.

This idea, which received a lot of attention, would ensure that the newly hired superintendent would not attempt changes previously successful in a larger community that would not do well here.

Another person added that the community has become complacent regarding our school.

“We need to get the fight back for our school, and get back to what is best for our school,” they said.

Herring asked what issues will the school district face in the next three years and the answers she received were diverse, including reduced number of students, over-all morale, test scores, sports and a lack of participation from the community.

Another potential problem reported is the use of Facebook; parents are too quick to blame the school/teachers before they find out what the actual problem is.

Kids have to be held accountable for their actions was another point.

After hearing these, Herring added, “There is a fine line, the school is not here to parent.”

“We need a Scott Frost,” chuckled Jim Young. “We need someone just like him to come in and turn this program around.” Though many laughed with him, most could not agree more!

In one brief hour, Herring heard a lot of great input, the community’s out-cry, which she relayed to and discussed with the members of the school board later that afternoon. No decisions were made following the board’s closed session to review the input.