During the regular board meeting on November 20, the Kingsland School Board heard a summary of the recent financial audit. All board members were in attendance (board chair Jackie Horsman, Maranda Emig, Natasha Howard, Tiffany Mundfrom, Leah Stier, and Kyle Rader) as well as Superintendent James Hecimovich, Business Manager Amber Uhlenhake, Principal Scott Klavetter, and Building & Grounds Director Jason Thompson.
Jason Boynton, representing the accounting firm of Smith Schafer & Associates, stated that he had already met with Uhlenhake and Hecimovich to go through the financials in further detail. He showed the board a Powerpoint presentation showing the status and trends regarding Kingsland’s revenues and expenses. In summary, he stated, “Talking about the audit, you contract with us. We send our staff in, we go over your accounting records. We work closely with Amber, to make sure everything checks out. And based on that… we’re issuing an unmodified opinion, we call that a clean opinion. It just means that we think the financials are fairly stated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.”
The board gave public thanks for recent donations, including a $200 donation from American Legion Post 68 to be used for the courtyard project. There were many donations to HOSA, a student group focused on health care, including from Revo Media ($150), Spring Valley Vet Clinic ($150), Ody’s ($225), Sunshine Foods ($75), Essig Agency ($75), Marburger Insurance ($50), Spring Valley Dental ($75), Knights of Columbus ($150), SEMA Equipment ($75), and Vallet Lanes ($50). The board also accepted with gratitude a number of donations to the scoreboard, including from Kuehn Motors ($1,000), Sunshine Foods ($1,000), SEMA Equipment ($1,000), First Leroy Agency ($1,000), JJBK Construction ($2,000), Essig Agency ($2,000), MinnWest Bank ($2,000), Valley Home Improvement ($2,000), AMD Distribution ($2,500), and Home Federal ($10,500).
Students Lexi Harwood and Elise O’Connor updated the board on recent and upcoming FFA events, and Harwood then gave an update on the Key Club. She stated, “We had the blood drive that happened in October. We collected 26 units, but our goal was actually 31 units.” Despite missing their goal, she added, “We had a lot of fun.” Superintendent Hecimovich explained that one factor impacting blood drive participation is a schedule conflict with athletic schedules, as he explained, “What we should do is move it to the right at least a couple more weeks to clear ourselves out of the season and postseason play.”
Stephanie Derby gave an update on the Student Council. She asked the status on a planned purchase of a device that can help detect vaping, stating, “At one of our spring meetings last (school) year, we voted to spend $500 on a vaping machine, and pay $150 for one year’s subscription with that. And we haven’t been billed for that, so we wondered, are we getting that?” Horsman and other board members said they recalled the board approving the purchase, so staff will move forward with getting the device ordered.
Principal Klavetter submitted a written report, and spoke on some of the highlights. Regarding the planned SMEC Summer Academy, his report stated, “I am currently working with a team of administrators within our SMEC consortium to develop a new summer program which will be available to students in grades K-8 from all seven SMEC school districts.” He will share more details as the program is developed.
Leah Stier spoke, representing Kingsland School Parents (KSP). She reported that the recent carnival was a huge success, with a turnout much better than expected. Her report stated that the event sold out of food, and had nearly $1,300 in sales. Based on this success, the group plans to make the carnival an annual event.
The board approved a number of hirings, resignations, and other personnel changes. The board heard a budgetary update from Amber Uhlenhake. Building & Grounds Director Jason Thompson informed the board that one of the playground slides now has developed a hole in it, so he is investigating the most cost-effective way to repair the issue.
The board voted to approve the proposed summer 2021 Spanish trip, which had been discussed in detail at the board’s “work session” on November 4. The sole dissenting vote was cast by Horsman, as she explained she’s heard a number of concerns from families.
The next board meeting will be a work session on Monday, December 2, at 6 p.m. in the Elementary Conference Room. The next regular board meeting will be Monday, December 16. On that evening, the annual Truth in Taxation meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m., with the regular board meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m. in the choir room. As always, the public is welcome at all open meetings.
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