Finishing up a few last documents and other tasks before turning over the job to Erik Widvey and hitting the road for Wyoming, superintendent Jim Wagner took time to meet with us last week. Staff photo by Jean Doran Matua.
By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
There’s been a shift of energy at Kimball Schools over the past month or so. Superintendent Jim Wagner tendered his resignation at the July 31 board meeting, high school principal Erik Widvey was approved as interim superintendent for 10 months, and newly appointed curriculum director Nancy Bonnifield was approved as the new interim high school principal.
The interim status was suggested by Widvey, to make sure the new job is a good fit for both him and for the district. If it’s not, he can step back into his principal job next year.
The shift of in-house personnel spares the district from what it’s experienced before: a panicked search for an interim superintendent while looking for a permanent replacement. Both Widvey and Bonnifield know the school, staff, and students, and both are known by them. They know the facilities as well. The learning curve should be relatively short for them as opposed to a new person coming in.
Last Thursday was Wagner’s last day at Kimball. His family already moved and started school, he joined them in Buffalo, Wyoming, over Labor Day weekend. Buffalo has a population of about 4,500 at the base of the Big Horn Mountains, just off I-90. He was hired as the new superintendent of schools there, with about 1,700 students spread over five buildings.
Jim Wagner arrived as Kimball’s superintendent in March 2014. At that time, the district had been in statutory operating debt (SOD) four of five or six years. Test scores were below the state average except in one area. More students were enrolling out of Kimball and into other schools than the other way around. All three areas were big problems to tackle, and Wagner started with a lot of why’s to get to the root of each problem. He then had to figure out how to improve in these areas, and how to get the information out.
During his four-and-a-half-year tenure at Kimball, the district has enjoyed three years of increased enrollment, been not in SOD for three years, test scores are all at or above state average, the unusable track has been replaced with an enviable one that brings visitors and money to the district without touching the general fund, had a building donated to the district, there have been no staff cuts because of funding, Q comp has been implemented for teachers, and the generic institutional décor at both schools is being replaced with more colorful school colors. These have all been group goals, agreed on by the school board as well as the community. “It’s ‘we,’ not ‘me,’”Wagner says.
Getting to know students has meant the most to Wagner during his time here, and his most memorable moments were subbing and interacting with kids.
Wagner is a life sciences teacher at heart, and had several administrative posts before coming to Kimball. He’s also a certified pilot and flight instructor.
One item he was not able to complete before his departure is the renewal of two-year contracts with Kimball teachers. Their 2015-17 contract expired in June 2017, and the teachers’ union and administration have not yet come close to resolving a 2017-19 contract. Teachers have indefinitely postponed negotiation meetings, and nothing new was scheduled as of last Wednesday.
Wagner believes that there is still room for improvement at Kimball, but that, too, will be on someone else’s watch. The science rooms, parking lots (and additional parking), and needed roof repairs still remain to be done. And he still dreams of an auditorium for the community, but now that can be someone else’s dream.
He feels the district is now positioned to be the best, and that the community can have everything they want. “We can’t be afraid of failure,” Wagner says, “but afraid of not doing something.”
Still, he’s got no regrets as this chapter closes and the new one opens. It’s been very enjoyable, he says, and he feels he and his four children (in grades 5-11) have been embraced by the community.
“Erik and Nancy will do well,” Wagner says. “Both are ready.”
“I have enjoyed my time here,” he added. “I wish everyone nothing but the best.”