School Board Approves Advisors, Coaches
The Culbertson School Board of Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. Trustees present included Ian Walker, chair, Wendy Becker, Amber Fox, Chris Petersen and Lisa Steppler.
Representatives were Nicole Simonsen, Mike Olson, Janessa Parenteau and Lora Finnicum. Visitors were recognized.
Newly elected trustee Verlin Steppler was sworn in. Walker called for reorganization of the board. Petersen was voted in as chair. Becker was elected as vice-chair and Finnicum was named district clerk.
Reports were presented. Field day for grades K-4 was described as a fun event and teachers requested the event to continue next year. Graduation and the academic and athletic banquet were well attended. Theil Bros. Roofing offered some solutions to the roof leaks and will continue to look at options.
Trustees considered the request from the annual advisor to cover the shortage of the annual account from FY24. A motion was made to pay the annual student activities account in the amount of $1,267.40.
For the math curriculum, a motion was approved Mc-Graw Hill math as presented with Everyday Math on a three year subscription bundle for K-5, Glencoe Math for 6-8 and Glencoe Math for 9-12.
The resignation of Kelly Vaught was accepted effective April 30, 2025.
A motion was approved to hire Tiffany Nielsen for 12th grade advisor, Chelsie Flinn for 11th grade advisor, Samantha Purvis for 10th grade advisor, Shelby Manning for ninth grade advisor, Jimie Lou Morris for eighth grade advisor, Amy Berwick for seventh grade advisor, Bill Carlisle for sixth grade advisor, Brad Nielsen as Drug & Alcohol coordinator, Elizabeth Standley for student council advisor, Shelly Panasuk for National Honor Society advisor, Janelle Ator for BPA advisor, Nicole Simonsen for Title IX coordinator, Bill Carlisle for annual advisor, Jennesy Taberna for band advisor, Milt Apple for high school head boys’ basketball coach, Tiffany Nielsen for cheer coach, Russell Pfeifer for choir advisor, Chance Hyatt for high school head cross country coach, Brian Manning for high school Head Football Coach, Jimie Lou Morris for high school head golf coach, Jeri Gustafson for high school head speech and drama coach, Dave Solem for high school head track coach, Tiffany Nielsen for high school head volleyball coach and Ashlee Anderson for MCT advisor for 2025-2026.
A motion was approved to hire Robert Kjelshus as activity bus driver, pending a background check. Elaine Jasper and Ardis Oelkers were approved as election judges.
A certified teacher contract was approved for Stefanie Newbill.
A motion was passed to hire David Anderson as high school head girls’ basketball coach. Weight room supervision discussed. Monitor usage and revisit next month. Wendy Becker made motion to track usage for June. Amber Fox seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was passed approving the budget amendment proclamation for the elementary general fund for $125,000.
Katie Clausen was approved for Kindergarten at a special meeting June 6.
The board expressed thanks to Ian Walker for five years’ service as trustee.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 23 at 6:30 p.m.
