Kimball Public Schools board elects Travis Cook president, confirms officers and approves superintendent contract

The Kimball Public Schools Board of Education reorganized its leadership at its January regular meeting, electing Travis Cook as board president for 2025 and confirming the slate of officers and appointments while approving the superintendent’s contract and an update to a public‑notice policy.

The board opened nominations for president and, after a nomination and second, elected Travis Cook by voice vote. The board then confirmed Jennifer Pringle as vice chair, Tom O’Brien as secretary and the nominated treasurer by voice vote; motions throughout the reorganization carried by recorded voice votes noted as unanimous (6–0).

Why it matters: the reorganizational votes set the board’s leadership and signatory authority for the year and authorized administrative steps such as updating bank signature cards and committee assignments that guide governance and district operations.

Board actions and approvals - Election of board president (Travis Cook): nominations opened and closed; the board elected Cook as president for 2025 (voice vote; motion carried, recorded as unanimous). - Election of vice chair (Jennifer Pringle), secretary (Tom O’Brien) and treasurer: each position was filled by motion and voice vote (motions carried, recorded as unanimous). - Committee assignments: the board approved standing committee appointments (civics; buildings & grounds; transportation; finance; negotiations; scholarships) with members asked to flag conflicts (motion carried 6–0). - Media affiliates and financial affiliates: the board approved designated media outlets for notices and a slate of banks as financial affiliates to permit future banking arrangements; the board also authorized signature cards for newly elected officers, the superintendent and the business manager (motion carried 6–0). - Superintendent contract: the board approved the superintendent’s contract extension (three‑year rolling approach discussed); the motion passed (motion carried 6–0). - Policy 202.15 amendment: the board adopted a statutory update to policy 202.15, allowing the district flexibility to post required meeting notices on statewide or newspaper websites if publication in a general‑circulation newspaper is impracticable (motion carried 6–0).

What board members said: the superintendent explained the statutory change to policy 202.15 was required by recent legislation taking effect Jan. 1, 2025 and provides flexibility if a local newspaper cannot meet publication deadlines; the chair reminded members the superintendent and president will post contract transparency materials on the district website.

Next steps: the board directed administration to finalize signature cards and to post required transparency documents for the superintendent contract; members were asked to review committee rosters and report conflicts as soon as possible. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 10 and a work session is planned for Jan. 22 to review the district’s five‑year continuous improvement plan.