District 6 U.S. Congressman Tom Emmer was in Kimball Friday afternoon, April 21. Joining him were Minnesota Senator Michelle Fischbach and Rep. Jeff Howe. The three met with superintendent Jim Wagner to tour the school facilities and to discuss issues unique to operating and funding public schools in Minnesota.
Ninety percent of public school funding comes from the state, and only 10 percent from the federal government, although many of the mandates are federal and come without funding.
?ÄúIt was a good visit,?Äù said Wagner. They shared concerns and ideas about things like transportation funding, how to get qualified teachers into the profession, and how to keep up with technology and curriculum (printed books vs. computer curriculum) and how to help cover the costs.
After the visit, Emmer commended the Kimball school district. He said, ?ÄúJim and his team, everybody here, in three years {took} a school that, it was a good school, but it wasn?Äôt attracting the people the way it should, to actually reverse that trend. Not only reverse it, but to restore this institution as a place where people not only know they want their kids, but they can?Äôt wait to get ?Äôem here.?Äù
Kimball superintendent Jim Wagner, U.S. Congressman Tom Emmer, Minnesota Senator Michelle Fischbach, and Minnesota Representative Jeff Howe posed for a moment before touring the facilities and meeting with the school administrative team Friday, April 21. Staff photo by Jean Doran Matua.
?ÄúIt?Äôs really impressive,?Äù he went on, ?Äúwhen you walk through the building and all the improvements and, you know what, it?Äôs about the people that are here, and we told them that you can tell when kids walk through the school; they have their head up, they look you in the eye. It?Äôs a very nice place to be.?Äù
Nothing was (or could be) decided at this meeting, but the Kimball schools are now known to these politicians, and the superintendent now has what he hopes are allies in both state and federal government.