Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Auditorium Renovation 'A Priority,' Superintedent Owens Says

The Kimball Board of Education met in regular session Sept. 23 in the district office.

It began with all of the necessary legalities. Then a representative of the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) gave board members a demonstration of the capabilities of Sparq Paperless Meetings.

This data solution enables districts to conduct meetings, keep records and conduct other business digitally, saving a great deal of storage space and paper.

Discussion then moved to the auditorium renovation project.

This project is an ongoing improvement initiative being completed in several phases. The first phase entailed redoing the wooden stage floor. The second phase is the renovation of the lighting and sound systems and installation of a new LCD laser projection system.

The project will continue with the third phase that will provide new curtains and the fourth phase will be a seating upgrade.

Kimball Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Owens explained that “the auditorium renovation project is a priority at this time because the condition of the equipment is having an impact on the programs, activities and community events that the district would like to be able to offer. The current equipment is original to the building, which was built in the 1960s, and as it is quite expensive to operate.”

By replacing the outdated or non-functioning features, Owens hopes to see “significant reduction in energy costs for the auditorium over time.”

To help defray some of the expense of the project, a generous donation of $50,000 dollars was made by the Kimball Education Foundation. Board members unanimously approved up to $85,000 dollars to cover the cost of the upgrades for the second stage of the renovation project.

The board then moved into executive session to strategize about collective bargaining, and upon returning to open session unanimously decided to appoint Perry Law Firm as an agent for negotiations on behalf of the Board of Education. This is the first time in recent years the district has contracted for negotiation assistance.

See next week’s Observer for coverage of the Oct. 14 school board meeting.

 
 
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