Operating Budget Up Slightly For Kimball School District

The Kimball School Board held its annual budget hearing Tuesday to set the final tax request, and it was approved with little discussion.

The 2019-20 property tax request is $6,078,260.73. Of that amount, $150,000.00 is for a Special Building Fund.

According to the resolution, “The total assessed value of property increased from last year’s total assessed value by 1.3%. The combined property tax request and changes in other revenue, the total combined operating budget for 2019-20 for the School District #1 will exceed the previous year by 0.18%.”

Business manager Harold Farrar reported that “they are trying to build the general fund cash reserves – it was lowered last year.”

The General Fund Operating Budget changed from $8,784,839 in 2018-19 to $8,980,315 in 2019-20 which is a 2.2% increase.

In addition to the budget hearings, the agenda and previous minutes were approved. The treasurer report was presented to the board. Board President Heather Norberg was absent and excused, and the remaining board members were all present.

In other business during the regular meeting, Brittany Cook, president of Kimball H.E.L.P.S. explained the organization’s mission and some of the projects which they promote.

H.E.L.P.S. stands for Kimball Helping Empower Learning and Pride with Support. This organization is a 5013c nonprofit which consists of parents and community members.

“Our objective is to help provide primarily Kimball elementary students with various educational tools to enrich and cultivate their learning environment and to help them build pride in their schools and community,” Cook said.

Some projects that H.E.L.P.S. has done include snacks for kids, teacher and staff appreciation week, grandparents breakfast, parents breakfast, first day of school activities, they sell spirit wear and purchase specific items for the classrooms.

If individuals are interested in helping in any way at the school, contact Brittany Cook at 308-235-5509 or [email protected] or Hilary Cook at 308-235-7099. They are always looking for volunteers.

The high school principal reported that NWEA testing in Reading, Math, Science and Language Usage will be conducted the week of the Sept. 16 and First Quarter Progress Reports are due on Wednesday the 18th.

The elementary principal reported the Elite program had 57 students enrolled on the first night and interest is high. Pick and drop off of students at Mary Lynch is going well. Mrs. Soper and Mrs. Reader will be attending Marzano training, which will focus on research based classroom instruction.

Receiving permission to address the board was civics teacher Jeri Ferguson. She spoke to the board to voice her disapproval of a new policy (603.9) that puts restrictions on movies being shown in the classroom. Teachers are required to get administration approval in order to show movies.

A number of meetings are scheduled for the fall, including the NASB Labor Relations Conference on Sept. 11-12 in Lincoln and a work session for the board Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. at the district office. The regular October board meeting is on the 14th at 6:30 p.m. and the NASB State Education Conference is Nov. 20-22 in Omaha.