The Kingsland Public Schools regular school board meeting was called to order on Thursday, February 19 at 6 p.m. by Chairwoman Jackie Horsman. Board members present included Gwen Howard, Pamela Freet, Maranda Emig, and Kyle Rader. Board member Natasha Howard was absent. Staff present included James Hecimovich, superintendent/7-12 principal; Scott Klavetter, PK-6 principal; and Amber Uhlenhake, business manager.
The Board approved hiring Brailey Becker as the new administrative assistant to the superintendent. She is scheduled to start work on Monday, February 22. Danielle Wilcox, high school SPED paraprofessional and Andrea Hare, administrative assistant to the superintendent resignations were accepted. The Board approved the hiring of Baylee Boley as cook.
Chairman Horsman publicly thanked Lisa Biermann for donating two Cricut machines, cartridges, and other supplies. The Cricuts will be a big help during the Social Studies department’s Decades Project.
School buses are running well. Transportation made minimal repairs to the buses last month, totaling $3,500. Bus drivers received COVID-19 vaccines Thursday, February 19. If drivers call in sick on the 20th due to adverse reactions from the vaccine, there are enough drivers to cover the bus routes.
Business Manager Uhlenhake shared the revised SY2020-21 budget summary. Revenue to-date totals $2.2 million, not including COVID-19 dollars. Expenditures are down from last year due in part to staff turn-over and decrease in the number of substitute teachers as well as savings due to COVID-19 dollars. Food Service has a food balance due to higher revenue and fewer expenses. Food Service will need to bring the balance down. Other highlights include the $9,000 decrease in Community Education due to local programming revenues and expenses.
Games are being rescheduled because of COVID-19. The revised schedule will include Saturday games and other evening games because the season is over on March 12. New COVID-19 guidelines allow for three games a week instead of two.
Principal Klavetter announced that there has been “slight relaxing of guidelines for PK-6 in regard to eating in the café.” Students will now eat lunch in the café and continue to eat breakfast in the classroom. A significant benefit to the changes is that teachers will now get a lunch break. He went on to mentioned that a teacher who has received two doses of the vaccine will not have to quarantine if they were around someone who has been exposed to someone who tested positive. Klavetter attended the CARES webinar earlier in the day, and funding will be approved on March 1. At that time, the school “will know for sure what our number will be.” At that time, he will start working on the application and budget.
New this time around is that CARES funding will be allowed for building improvement and upgrades to air quality. The governor has earmark funds for staff, instructional material, and transportation for summer programs and it looks as if all students will qualify this summer. Third, expenses addressing learning loss will be covered.
Fillmore County Public Health has done an amazing job ensuring that school staff is vaccinated. By Friday, March 5, “We will all be taken care of,” shared Hecimovich.
The school’s strategic plan is in the final stage. Terminology will be added to the technology section, as well as updating the information on marketing after Hecimovich meets with Horseman on the rebranding initiative.
Superintendent Hecimovich shared with the Board the first Semester Student Achievement data as it compared to last year’s numbers. He mentioned that the data is interesting, and that the school is calling this an opportunity. The number of Fs received by students in junior high illustrates that these are the grades most affected. Looking at both years by subject, it is the core academics area that were significantly impacted. Hecimovich explained that no one is surprised and that “this is a learning matter for Kingsland.” He mentioned that he is getting more and reports that kids need therapy. The school is seeing more truancy and lack of engagement when the kids are not in the classroom. “The 7, 8, and 9 grades are critical years for kids,” emphasized Hecimovich.
Updates to high school courses and the registration booklet will be presented at next month’s Board meeting, allowing the school time to finalize the purchase of a C & C machine and CAD system as “promised to the public.” The school’s goal is to get these new courses into the catalog. These classes will allow students to design and build things and sell them at a profit to the public. The funds generated will go back into the program.
The Board reviewed the SY2021-2022 school calendar at the last work meeting, and there has not been any pushback. Motion to approve 2021-2022 school calendar was unanimously approved.
The Board unanimously approved the revised SY2021-2022 budget.
Chairman Horsman adjourned the meeting at 7:17 p.m.
The Kingsland Public School Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 15 at 6 p.m. in the school’s choir room.
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