According to Minnesota state policy, preschool and special needs students, and children in grades K-3 cannot be denied meals. The state feels that these students may not have the maturity or ability to remind parents that their lunch accounts are low or empty. Kimball Elementary School abides with the policy by offering students a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich if their accounts are in deficit. KES principal Jon Clark brought this up at the last school board meeting. He said the issue is becoming a problem that teachers, students, families and the administration are facing. “This is a very stressful situation for teachers and students at the elementary school.” Superintendent Scott Thielman said the major concern is that students are given a full-meal lunch that is taken away if it is determined their funds are too low. He felt that this demeans students and singles them out in a negative way. The school board agreed with the administration regarding this issue at its meeting Thursday, Sept. 18. “It is absurd to do this to students,” school board member Jerry Gillman said. “I don’t think that it sends the right message.” “Can’t we identify these students before they get a full tray of food,” Gillman asked. Other board members agreed. Thielman said that he would take action. “I can take direct action, when it says meal, we mean a ‘full meal.’” The board said that students shouldn’t have their trays taken away and replaced with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As usual, elementary students with low balances will have their hands stamped and letters sent to their parents. In other action, the board: o Accepted money from the Target Corporation, $398.15. This money came from Target card holders who designated Kimball Area Schools on their applications. “This money will be used at the media center, because you receive double the amount to purchase books and materials for students and staff,” Secondary Principal Karen Imholte said. o Was briefed by Thielman about Aid Anticipation Certificates. Thielman told the board that the district has applied for a $1.1 million loan. The state notified Thielman that the district is eligible for $2.8 million. “This would allow us to make sure we have plenty of cash flow for the bond payment,” Thielman said in regard to the loan. The interest on the loan would be 1.26 percent, which the board noted was relatively consistent with last year’s loan rate of 1.24 percent. o Reinstated Lisa Wallwork and Cheryl Wyatt from .9 contracts to 1.0. Board member Dave Van Vleet asked why so many teachers were being reinstated. He said that the board originally cut these positions to get the school off of the state’s financial watch list. Thielman explained that there were three teachers who left, and their time was reallocated with current teachers. “We still have the same FTE (full time equivalent) [as in the original proposal last spring],” Thielman said. Thielman also noted that the district had to add special education paraprofessionals to deal with the needs of the students in district #739. He explained that this was done to comply with state law. o Looked at the levy certification from 2003, which would be payable 2004. Since Kimball has so many homes being built in the area, the local community will provide more money to the school from property taxes. “The property values are going up $600,000 which nets us an increase of $100,000,” Thielman explained. The increase in property values also means that the district will not have to hold a truth in taxation meeting this year. o Announced the names of candidates for school board elections to be held in November. Look for features on these candidates in future editions of Tri-County News. o Received a construction report from DLR representative Troy Miller. Van Vleet asked about the water problems that the school is having in one area and hypothesized if it was because of the new roofing. “I saw it, too; the water is just rushing in,” Thielman said. Miller told the board that he would flood the roof to find out what is causing the leak and where it is coming from. o Approved contracts with principals Clark and Imholte. o Celebrated students and staff. The board thanked the chamber for the business-education breakfast before school began. o Was briefed by Imholte about the homecoming week activities. o Heard from Clark about the elementary school. He said that the elementary school will host its first knowledge bowl event in early December. “We hope to generate revenue to help fund this program,” Clark said. He also told the board that the elementary school has a dynamic group of parents working with P.I.E. (Partners In Education) who are planning exciting events. He also told the board that the flyers about KES went out to local realtors. The elementary school will also participate in homecoming by wearing blue and gold to school during the week. KES is working on a life skills and writing theme program throughout the year. This month’s theme is “respect.” Elementary school students will celebrate this theme on Oct. 7. o Listened to Thielman’s updates. He said that the community is still pursuing the initiative grant which would provide funding for early childhood education. Kimball is one of seven towns eligible for the grant. Thielman noted that a board is being formed to look into the grant. The board is made up of local clergy, community members, business personnel and school representation.
