Mitchell School Board Reviews Summer Scholars Program and Improvement Plan

The Mitchell Board of Education is set to evaluate a proposed Summer Scholars Program and a continuous school improvement plan during its upcoming meeting on January 12, 2026. This session will take place at 5:30 p.m. at L.B. Williams Elementary School.

The board will consider the Summer Scholars Program aimed at providing academic and enrichment support for students from kindergarten through fourth grade. With capacity for 100 students per session, the program emphasizes outdoor activities and community field trips, maintaining a 1:10 staff-to-student ratio. According to Joe Childs, superintendent of the Mitchell School District, the initiative is designed to be financially self-sufficient, relying on an annual donation of $200,000 and a fee-based model to cover all expenses without affecting the district’s general fund. Pending board approval, the program could commence as early as this summer.

Childs expressed optimism about the initiative, stating, “This really is a benefit to your students to be participating in it. This is going to be a lot of fun for your children.” He emphasized that the program would not only be educational but also an opportunity for students to build relationships across the district.

In addition to the Summer Scholars Program, the board will review a continuous school improvement plan developed by Amanda Sonne, the curriculum director. This plan aims to enhance student achievement and stabilize the learning environment across the district. It will establish rigorous, data-driven goals for academic proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics, while also focusing on implementing systemic behavioral supports to address a rise in disciplinary incidents.

Childs is advocating for the approval of this improvement plan, which is expected to provide a strategic roadmap for the district’s educational objectives.

The agenda for the meeting includes several personnel decisions. The board is expected to approve new certified hires, including Carolyn Sivik, a part-time elementary tutor at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary at a rate of $20 per hour for two days a week, effective January 5; Ciera Bennett, a K-5 elementary tutor at L.B. Williams Elementary at $22 per hour; and Krista Mitchell, a paraeducator at L.B. Williams Elementary at $16 per hour, effective January 12.

The board will also address resignations, including Kindra Decker, the head girls soccer coach, effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year, and Katelin Theunissen, a paraeducator at Mitchell Middle School, effective January 6. Additionally, Rebecca Larson, a 6th-grade math and English teacher, will retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year, along with Deb Thill, an elementary physical education teacher and head coach for volleyball and track.

New hires at Mitchell Technical College will also be discussed, including Madison Vander Heiden for RAD 170 at $2,700; Sara Cashman as a nursing clinical adjunct at $50 per hour; and Abbey Marten for microbiology at $3,600. All new hires are effective for the spring 2026 semester.

Other agenda items include the consideration of purchasing a pickup truck for the school choir and entering into executive session for the annual evaluation of the superintendent. The board may also discuss offering Childs a new three-year contract as superintendent.

The meeting is open to the public, and the Mitchell Republic will livestream the session on its website. The community is encouraged to participate in the discussions and to provide input on the initiatives affecting local education.