Tim Branon concluded a thirty-three-year career in education at the Central City School board meeting on Tuesday. At the end of June, Branon officially vacates the position for new superintendent Jordan Queen. Branon expressed appreciation for the people he worked with and was proud of the place the Central City School has within the community. He has high hopes for the district’s future with a new superintendent.
“I feel like the district has a good reputation and standing in our four-county area. We’re really proud of that,” Branon said. “I’m really proud of the staff that we have assembled. I feel like they’re a kid-first staff… We have one of the lowest tax rates in the area. We have quite a bit of money. I feel like we have successful students, offer good programs and have a beautiful building. I think we got a lot accomplished in seventeen years. Now it’s time to turn it over to somebody younger with some more energy and see if they can take it to the next level.”
The meeting itself began with the amended budget hearing. Branon’s assessment is that the district’s financial situation is good and improving thanks to evidence-based funding from the state and judicious use of ESSER funds. Branon expects the district to maintain a 4.0 financial profile rating from the state.
A school improvement plan presented by Central City teachers Susan Bozett, Julie Martin and Lora Densmore. The district was prompted by the state to develop a plan to improve the performance of the district’s special education students. The team of teachers has developed a plan to improve the core curriculum with a particular focus on math skills. Along with raising student performance, the plan sets a goal to reduce student absences, especially for students who are frequently and repeatedly absent. The board approved the plan.
The school district renewed its property and general liability insurance through PSIC, noting that the premium had increased 13% due to an increase in appraised property value.
The board considered but did not act on a bid to replace existing fixed basketball goals in the gym with electronically movable goals. Branon said that the proposal could modernize the gym, but that the existing basketball goals were still functional and did not make a recommendation either way. While discussing this proposal, board members also mentioned the need to renovate two bathrooms that have gone a long time without an update. The basketball goals and bathrooms will likely see more discussion at the next meeting.
