Kimball girls’ basketball team will be decked out this season. They received funding from the Kimball wrestling boosters for new uniforms at the Nov. 20 school board meeting. “I think that it means a lot. It shows that even when times are tough, everyone comes together. The wrestling boosters crossed over their line to help out others in need,” girls’ basketball head coach Ericka Matzke said. “It taught the girls that if they put their mind to something, they can be successful in the end.” Matzke added that the team will help out at a wrestling event in January to help pay for their uniforms. The team originally presented the school board with their request July 24. The board voted to allow the team to raise money for the uniforms Aug. 7. In other action at the meeting, the school board: • Accepted a donation from the State Bank of Kimball’s Board of Directors. The bank presented Kimball Area Public Schools with $5,000. Robert Meyerson, Chair of the Board of Directors said $2,500 was designated to special tutoring programs for seventh- and eighth-grade students and the other $2,500 is for Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). “[The bank] very much appreciates the efforts of our local school district in educating our young people,” Meyerson said in a letter presented to the superintendent. • Approved a motion to accept the snow removal bid from Rohloff Bobcat Service. • Agreed to pay the Hazel Avenue reconstruction project over the course of 3 years. Each payment will total $4,371.84. • Authorized the Emergency Plan Policy. The plan has been practiced at both campuses and is a model policy from the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA). Superintendent Thielman noted that the Kimball public schools’ policy goes beyond the minimum reguirements laid out by the model policy. • Heard from Troy Miller of the DLR group. He told the board that the majority of the work was done, with only one outstanding issue – the contractor’s payment. The leaking roof near the gym corridor had been resolved. A leak was found in the existing gym’s roof. “We have repaired this and flooded it. Nothing has happened since [even during rainfalls]. However, it is one area you might want to start saving for,” Miller advised. Miller also said that there are four cold rooms in the building, which will continue to be monitored. He also noted that the contractor with the doors was going to look at the concern. He said the door separation problem (the laminate is separating from the core) was a manufacturing issue, not a problem from the contractor. • Celebrated the success of staff and students. Thielman honored the elementary students of the month. High school principal Karen Imholte discussed the academic achievements made by the sports teams and said that 17 students were inducted into the National Honor Society. Matt Serbus was welcomed as a new board. member He will take over in January. Gerald Gillman did not seek re-election. His position on the board ends in December. • Imholte told the board that the high school has obtained a net gain of two students. • Was briefed by elementary school principal Jon Clark. He explained that the Nov. 11 Grandparents Day celebration was a huge success. “It went over very well,” Clark said. He also said that the crisis prevention training received good comments. Sara Watts, Kimball Family Advocate, had arranged clothing donations for needy families. P.I.E. (Partners in Education) was selling children’s Cub gear at the elementary school. Roughly 400 children have registered to attend Kimball Elementary School’s Knowledge Bowl event Dec. 2. Finally, Clark said that the American Education Week went well. • Heard from Thielman. He told the board that he organized and prepared a baked potato and salad bar for teachers at both schools during American Education Week. He said that Kimball was featured on KDUZ Thursday, Nov. 20, for American Education Week. He noted that the station also invited him to be a regular guest for their programming. Thielman will talk with KDUZ again in a few months. • Discussed the price of the former Community Education property. The board agreed to reduce the price from $139,900 to $134,900. • Heard a committee report on ECFE. Board Chair Dorothy Kersten told the members that ECFE was now serving more than 90 children and approximately 60 families. They are also giving packets to new parents with pointers on how to care for the child and better develop brain power with simple game ideas. • Adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
