The Kingland School Board met on Monday, March 16 to review the school’s enrollment numbers.
During the board’s workshop on Monday, March 2, Superintendent Scott Klavetter explained they use these numbers to plan for programs and funding.
As of March, there are 492 students enrolled in the Kingsland District.
According to Klavetter, the kindergarten class for next year should offset the 34 seniors graduating in May.
Statistics show out of all the students coming into the elementary, 13.3% open enrolled, 73.3% moved into the district and 13.3% returned from open enrolling or homeschooling. For those students leaving the district, 76.6% moved out of the district, 7.1% transferred to private schooling or homeschooling and 14.3% took a placement or moved to Southern Minnesota Education Consortium (SMEC).
Of the students in the high school coming in 8.3% open enrolled, 41.7% moved in to the district, 16.7% returned from open enrollment or homeschooling, 8.3% returned from online schooling and 25% transferred from a private school.
For those leaving, 4.3% open enrolled out of the district, 21.7% moved out of the district, 26.1% took a placement or moved to SMEC and 47.8% transferred to online schooling.
“The long story short, we are, once again, looking to stay pretty steady for next year,” Klavetter said. “In this day and age that is success.”
Quick Deed
Last year during a land sale a document from 1868 was discovered showing there was a schoolhouse in the middle of this parcel of land, which was leased from the farmer who owned the land at that time. Over time the schoolhouse became part of the Spring Valley School District and then the Kingsland School District.
Because the lease was never formally dissolved the district would technically still have the right to lease the land.
“When the Wykoff school building was sold in 2018 the sales agreement was signed by the board chair and the clerk. The quick claim was signed and all the paperwork was there, but there is not a formal resolution on file with the county from the school board at that time acknowledging all the paperwork,” Klavetter explained.
To clear up the issue the current board approved a resolution recognizing the 2018 quick claim deed.
Staff Report
Rachel Burt, sixth grade, and Theodore Haddad, fifth grade, presented the new middle school setup and its progress.
Burt explained while the students have a homeroom math, science, social studies and reading classes are taught by different teachers. The idea is this will ease the change from fifth grade to middle school’s class structure.
“One thing that we’ve noticed is an overall increase in student independence and responsibility, time management and accountability. In the fifth grade, especially, it was a slow start with them learning how to organize everything in a binder and making sure they travel to their classrooms with the right materials,” Haddad said.
The teachers noted because they are teaching certain classes they are able to specialize their materials and have better collaboration amongst the teachers.
Haddad shared it also helps the teachers recognize students’ needs as a whole and as individuals better.
“I like the changes that I’ve seen and that is to the teachers’ credit,” Klavetter expressed.
Facility Maintenance
After meeting with Solar Connections, Klavetter updated the board.
“We are going to go to the city and ask for a variance to shift the solar panels as far away from the baseball field that we can,” Klavetter. The variance would allow the district to put the solar panels closer to the old dump road.
Klavetter also noted they will need to get permits for the solar panels from both the city of Spring Valley and Fillmore County as the city limits go through the outfield of the baseball field.
Other Business
Stephanie Derby and Scott Mulholland donated $25 in memory of Dan “Joe” O’Connell.
A survey for the district’s strategic planning will be in the Fillmore County Journal and on the school’s website. Monday, March 30 at 6 p.m. a group listening session for all community members will be held. Klavetter previously stated it would be a brainstorming of what is going well and areas for growth.
The board approved the 2026 to 2027 course offerings.
With the board’s approval, a custodial supervisor position for the evening shift will be created. This position will report to Buildings and Grounds Director Brian Miner.
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