Board Newsletter

A Successful Start to the New Year

The regular monthly meeting of the Kelso C-7 Board of Education took place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by President Liz Glasstetter, with a quorum of members present.

Board Members in Attendance:

• Elizabeth Glasstetter – Present

• Major Burger – Present

• Julie Heisserer – Present

• Michael Glasstetter – Present

• Roy Buell – Present

• Andrea Koepp – Absent

• Dustin Benson – Absent

Also present were Superintendent Kimberly S. Burger, School Board Secretary Kristy Pobst, Principal Debbie Lands, Title Teacher Angel Toler, Counselor Stacy Creech, and others via Zoom.

Agenda Approval

The Board moved to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was passed unanimously.

Consent Agenda Approval

The Board approved the consent agenda, which included:

• Minutes from the December 11, 2024 Board meeting

• Current expenditures

• Treasurer’s report

The motion was carried with a 5-0 vote.

Recognition: Board of Education Appreciation

The Board members were recognized for their service to the Kelso C-7 School District. In appreciation, an appreciation meal, dessert, and thank-you cards from students were presented to the members.

Two Minutes of Good

• Angel Toler, Title Teacher, and Stacy Creech, Counselor, shared their “Two Minutes of Good” highlights, celebrating recent positive developments in the district.

Building and Construction Update

Dr. Kimberly Burger shared an estimate of project costs from McKinstry related to ongoing building and construction projects. The Board reviewed the details in preparation for upcoming decisions.

Bond Election Authorization

The Board discussed the authorization of a special election to approve the issuance of up to $1,350,000 in General Obligation Bonds. After a detailed discussion, a motion to approve the resolution calling for the special bond election on April 8, 2025, was passed with a unanimous vote of 5-0.

Safety Update

A safety report was presented to the Board. No action was required at this time, as it was an informational update.

Music Umbrella Insurance Policy

The Board moved to approve the purchase of an umbrella insurance policy for the district in the amount of $4 million. The motion passed with a 5-0 vote.

Program Evaluation

The Board reviewed the instructional climate program evaluation, with no action required. The discussion provided valuable insights into the district's ongoing educational initiatives.

Principal’s Report

Principal Debbie Lands highlighted several positive developments at the school, including:

• Positive Office Referrals

• Updates on Special Education and Administration notes

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Kimberly S. Burger presented several key topics, including:

• CSIP/District Report Card – Updates on district goals and performance.

• Financial Tidbits – A brief financial update, including budget projections and funding sources.

• Enrollment & Projections – An overview of current student enrollment and projections for the future.

• Board of Education Election Results – Review of the most recent election results for the Board.

• Campaign Update – Information on upcoming initiatives and community engagement efforts.

• Teacher Laptop/Computer Purchases – Updates on technology purchases for faculty.

• Food Service Review – A look at the current state of food services in the district.

• Health Insurance – Overview of upcoming changes to staff health insurance options.

• Facilities Requests – Discussion of upcoming facility needs and projects.

Closed Session & Personnel Decisions

The Board entered a closed session at 7:27 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. Upon returning to open session at 7:45 p.m., the Board moved to hire:

• Leah Silman for after-school care

• Ali Dirnberger as a Substitute Teacher

Both motions were passed with unanimous approval.

Next Meeting

The next regular monthly meeting of the Kelso C-7 School Board is scheduled for February 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.