Broken Bow Board of Education Holds Last Meeting Before Budget Hearing

BROKEN BOW— School is in session, which means the Broken Bow Board of Education is in full swing as well. All board members were in attendance for a regular meeting on Monday, August 20.

Treasurer, JB Atkins, led the meeting by giving a report that the school would most likely have extra money for this next fiscal year. The school system spent approximately $200,000 less than the annual budget of $10.9 million dollars. With the budget request fast approaching, the budget hearing will be held at 7:30 on Monday, September 10 with a work session to follow.

As something new to kick off the school year, Superintendent Darren Tobey had the idea to have the “Best First Day of School.” This day was for the kids to relax and have fun by playing on bounce houses, games, and other activities at Melham Park. Tobey had high praises for the teachers and staff that helped put the event on and made it such a success.

“It was nice to see our kids in a positive light and our staff doing some different things that stood out and it was nice to have the news here for a positive reason,” said Superintendent Darren Tobey. “[The staff] did a great job of taking the bull by the horns. When I brought the idea up I think the idea was a little questionable, but they jumped on board and did a good job with it.”

Kim Jonas, the Elementary Principal, presented to the board the new science curriculum that was adopted. The science standards are very different this year and the new Amplify Science curriculum matches those new standards.

“All of the teachers went through training this summer though various ways. Some were online or the trainers came out,” said Kim Jonas.

There were four actionable items on the agenda including policy changes and approval on the Choice Program. The policy changes included a specific reading in the 3,000 policy as well as a foreign exchange student policy. The certified evaluations which are in the process of becoming simpler and more user friendly, were tabled as the program was still getting the bugs out. Finally, the successful Choice Program which helps with graduating those who may have dropped out of school previously, was approved by the board.

The next scheduled meeting dates are Monday, September 10, for the budget hearing with the work session to follow. The following week on September 17, there will be a regular board meeting where the budget will be approved.

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