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Superintendent reviews year of projects, grants and student milestones; student representative honored
Summary
Superintendent Damen Kennedy outlined 2025–2026 accomplishments — completed sports complex and CTE building, security upgrades, and more than $500,000 in grants plus a reported $2 million preschool grant — and the board presented a certificate honoring student representative Himemena Vargas.
Superintendent Damen Kennedy told the Bogota Public School District Board of Education on June 16 that the district completed a number of capital and programmatic projects this school year and secured significant grant funding.
"First up, our HIB report. We had one founded in the high school," Kennedy said, then introduced the student representative for a year-end summary. Student representative Himemena Vargas summarized a busy June for Bagota High School, noting spring concerts, art shows, awards ceremonies, athletics recognition, senior prom and end-of-year testing as the class prepares for graduation on June 24, 2026. "As this is my final report of the school year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been an incredible year for Bua High School," Vargas said.
Kennedy highlighted construction and security projects completed this year, naming the sports complex, a career and technical education building, security vestibules in district buildings, the BHS auditorium and media center, and work on the Bixby gymnasium. He said electrical upgrades across buildings will finish over the summer.
On funding, Kennedy said the district "secured over $500,000" in grants this year and referenced an additional preschool grant he described as "an extra $2 million." The district also noted academic program growth: 20 dual-enrollment classes, 14 AP courses, and new CTE offerings in cybersecurity, automotive and culinary arts. Kennedy said 43 students passed the Seal of Biliteracy and that the graduating class earned about $14 million in scholarships and grants.
The board recognized three retirees — Shaim Amatalier (Jimmy), a 12-year custodian; Lorie Nichols, 25 years as an elementary teacher; and Diane Baronello (DB), 25 years in special education — and honored building teachers of the year. A family member briefly addressed the board to praise an honored teacher.
Why it matters: The superintendent’s report bundles facility completion, curriculum expansion and outside funding that the board and administration say will support student programming and capital upkeep going into the next school year. Several items cited (grant totals and the preschool grant) were reported by administration during the meeting; the transcript records those amounts as statements by the superintendent.
