Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Howitt Hired To Succeed Smith As AD
Representing Kimball Jr/Sr High School, Jeri Ferguson thanked the school board members Monday and presented them with gift cards in recognition of School Board Appreciation Week. Mary Lynch teachers gave the board members Valentine's cookies for as an appreciation gift.
The Kimball School Board received and accepted three resignations effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Resignations were received from athletic director Ken Smith and teachers Francis Carolyn Montgomery and Jeffrey Hoatson.
Ken Smith's letter reflected on his 29 years with the district and ended his letter with, "I feel that at this time Kimball Public Schools is heading in a very positive direction and I want to wish you (Mr. Anderson) and the rest of the school system success in the future."
The board approved a contract for Mr. Smith's replacement. Darrell Howitt, a 1985 alumnist, will become the next athletic director. The district had 12 applicants apply for the position and interviewed five of the candidates.
Montgomery's resignation letter said she would be spending more time with family and traveling after her 22 years of teaching English.
Hoatson is the business and computer teacher, and his resignation will be effective at the end of the school year.
In other action items, an FFA event is scheduled for March 2 with about 300 students in attendance from various schools. The board approved no school that day for students and a professional development day for staff members not involved in the FFA contest.
The board approved the sale of the Equipment Storage Building at 604 S. Nadine to Rich and Nancy Novotny for $32,256. The district acquired the property in 1957 for $10.
The LED lighting project is well on its way to completion as the lighting units have arrived, and the board approved a bid from Strauch Electric to remove 269 old lighting fixtures and install 138 new LED lights for $12,500.
It was also reported that board members Travis Cook and Albert Hargreaves and Superintendent Trevor Anderson attended a Legislative Issues Conference in Lincoln. The trio listened to state senators speak on educational issues and had a discussion with this district's current state Sen. Steve Erdman.
Cook said he was impressed with LB890, as it offers a way to get the State of Nebraska to provide more funding for the schools, but Cook fears it will not get out of committee. During the board meeting Cook said that "the state needs to do more funding."
The next board meeting will be a special meeting to discuss the Capital Projects Plan on Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kimball County Transit Service building meeting room.
The next regular Kimball School Board meeting will be on March 14.
