Mitchell Community Schools trustees approve multiple hires, ELA curriculum purchase and summer schedule

The Mitchell Community Schools board unanimously approved a series of personnel appointments, a $6,000 donation for athletics, a purchase of English language arts materials for grades 6–12 and the district’s summer-school schedule during its regular meeting.

A staff member presenting the personnel agenda recommended hiring Emma Holmes as a speech-language pathologist for the 2026–27 school year; the board was told Holmes will complete her master’s work and obtain full SLP licensure in May. The board also approved Brooke Dow (LPN) as a school nurse, Kelsey Keithley as a health-aide substitute at Mitchell Junior High, Robin Phillips as a traffic monitor and Class C custodian, and Kelsey McVey to assume Bus Route 14 after serving as a substitute driver. Resignations accepted included McKenna Embry (Mitchell High School cheer coach) and John Burgess (MHS and Mitchell Junior High golf coach). Several coaching hires for the fall were also approved.

“All personnel items were approved by voice vote,” the chair said; multiple motions were seconded and the board’s recorded tally on those items was 5-0.

On academics, the board approved the purchase of McGraw Hill English language arts curriculum materials for grades 6–12. The staff member said the package is intended to provide a seamless K–12 alignment after the district adopted K–5 materials earlier and noted that diagnostic assessments accompany the curriculum. The purchase was described as a six-year lifecycle with three-year payment terms.

The board accepted a $6,000 donation from the varsity club to the Mitchell Community Schools athletic department for the purchase of a golf cart, and approved the routine transfer of remaining Class of 2025 funds to the Class of 2026 fund. Trustees also approved summer school at Hatfield, Burrows, Mitchell Junior High and Mitchell High School, to be held May 26–June 5 from 9 a.m. to noon each day.

Board members made the motions and seconds by first names in the record (motions frequently initiated by Patrick and seconded by Kyle); multiple agenda items were carried by a unanimous 5-0 vote. The board announced a special session scheduled for March 26 followed by an executive session.

The district did not specify contract dollar totals for the curriculum purchase in the meeting discussion. The board’s next steps include finalizing procurement paperwork and implementing the approved summer-school staffing and schedule.