The Park Hill Board of Education unanimously approved the hire of Dr. Mike Kimbrel as the next district superintendent.
Kimbrel currently serves as assistant superintendent of academic services. The hire came at a closed session held just before the Thursday, March 10 board meeting. Board members took a few moments to praise the process, which kicked off last fall after current superintendent Dr. Jeanette Cowherd announced her retirement at the end of the school year.
“I can’t say that I always enjoyed superintendent searches but I enjoyed this one,” said long-time board member Susan Newberger, complimenting board president Janice Bolin on her leadership during the process.
Bolin thanked district staff for their work during the hiring process during her announcement.
Kimbrel’s imminent hire was announced earlier this month. According to a statement from the district,
the board used feedback from students, staff and community members to help guide them as they chose from a competitive national field of candidates.
Kimbrel has more than 20 years of education experience. Before coming to Park Hill, he worked in the Millard Public Schools in Nebraska and the Liberty Public Schools, serving as a math teacher, an assistant principal and a principal. He came to Park Hill 12 years ago as director of research, evaluation and assessment, and also served as executive director of quality and evaluation.
PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY
The board also unanimously approved changes to its policy allowing public comment at board meetings, stating the recommendation was made by the Missouri School Board Association and the district’s attorneys. Due to the pandemic and several racist incidents, the district has received more public input at board meetings, and not all of it has been civil.
“There has been a general chaos around our public comments as of late,” Bolin said. “We’re not trying to stifle public input at all, we’re just trying to make the process more clear.”
Attorney Clay Fulghum outlined the changes in policy at the meeting. Not only will speakers face a time limit – as they currently do – but they also now must preregister within a 48-hour window prior to meetings to speak at those meetings.
“We want to make sure our public is heard, but we also want to keep in mind this is a board meeting and if an issue arises that there is a lot of public comment about we could create a forum instead,” Newburger said.
Fulghum suggested setting a speaker limit, not a hard time limit, but the final decision was up to the board. Bolin suggested seven speakers be permitted to speak at public meetings, but the ultimate number could be increased if there was high demand.
Board member Scott Monses said he wanted to make it clear this was a decision of the board and not of district administrators.