Three new staff members were approved by the Milbank School District Board of Education during a special meeting Monday, April 18. Filling vacancies within the district will be Robin Simmons, Brian Pauli, and Kelli Hoff. “We are thrilled with the quality of people we have hired,” stated Superintendent Tim Graf.
Robin Simmons and her family moved to the area last year. Her husband is employed with the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Robin has been hired as a middle school teacher. Most recently, Mrs. Simmons has been an eighth grade English/Language Arts teacher in Murray, Kentucky and a freshman/sophomore English teacher in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. She obtained her bachelors and masters degrees from Michigan State University. “Robin has great experience and is a nationally board certified teacher,” said Graf. “We are pleased to add her to our middle school staff.”
Brian Pauli is an MHS graduate. Brian will teach physical education at the middle school/high school level and will be the head girls basketball coach. Brian began his teaching and coaching career in Summit and also spent one year as athletic director there. He then moved to Chester where he taught and served as athletic director before relocating to Homer, Nebraska, where he currently teaches physical education and health classes. “Brian is an experienced teacher and proven coach and we are happy to have him return to Milbank,” said Graf. “Brian will work at the middle/high school and Ryan Conrad will move to Koch Elementary to assume the duties of Mr. Frederiksen.”
Kelli Hoff has been hired as a special education teacher. She is originally from Brandon Valley, now resides in Tyndall, and is currently the sixth through eighth grade middle school resource teacher and coach in the Bon Homme School District. She also has coaching experience. “We are pleased to welcome Kelli to the Milbank School District,” Graf stated.
The board also accepted a bid for the LED lighting project. Four bids were submitted for consideration with the lowest bid coming from Wiese Electric at $211,384. Other bids up for consideration were Engelstad Electric at $226,599, GenPro at $219,566, and Nelson Electric at $249,276. “We feel really good about this project and expect our payback to be under six years,” stated Graf. Business Manager Nancy Meyer further explained that the kilowatt per hour use will be cut in half providing the district with good savings.
The board approved four open enrollment applications for students in grades 3, 5, 9, and 12 from the Ortonville district. “All of the students are currently enrolled in our district, but the family has relocated to Ortonville,” explained Graf.
Teacher negotiations and re-employment of certified staff were also approved by the board. The next regular meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, May 9, at 7 p.m. in the Central Office board room.
Pictured: Robin Simmons, Brian Pauli and Kelli Hoff
Staff Writer
No comments so far.
Be first to leave comment below.