Lamar RE-2 School Board Directors hold first meeting of the 2026-2027 school year on August 10, 2026

The Lamar RE-2 School Board Directors held their first meeting of the 2026-2027 school year. Prior to the meeting in talking with Superintendent Dr. Chad Krug, he excitedly told me how happy the District is with the 26 new personnel for this year, saying the August 3 New Staff Orientation day went really well and that they “get along really well and are a great team already”.   He said that today was the first day for grades 6, 9 and new students and things went smoothly.  August 11 will see grades 6-12 return to class, and August 12 is the first day for grades K-5 and Krug said he expects they will go well also.

All Board Directors were present for the meeting. The evening had a relatively short agenda, owing to the new school year just getting off the ground.  After board minutes and the agenda were approved, the Board moved on to one Unfinished Business item, which was the second reading of Policy GBEB-R which concerns staff conduct and interaction with students.  It was approved unanimously.  In New Business, the Consent Agent which included June & July financials and the personnel report, which were both approved. Also approved was the first reading of policy JFBB-E, the nonresident student application, and the 2026/2027 capital projects purchase of a 2023 Ford Transit maintenance van.  Also approved was a 2026-2027 capital projects purchase of student desks and chairs.  It was decided to accept the quote of $71,316.80 given by Meteor Education.  The plan is for each campus principal to identify one grade level most in need of the new equipment to begin the process of replacing the desks and chairs.  The other quote received was for 77,000.

In the Strategic Plan update, Dr. Krug spoke about the strong start to the school year, mentioning the 26 new staff members who were welcomed through an onboarding process that included district orientation, campus visits, and introductions to key departments.  The district’s belief is that investing in a successful start for new employees supports consistent instruction and positive experiences for students.  A discussion with the Board was held about the district’s high-needs special education options to serve students with intensive needs.  The district has begun reviewing preliminary construction estimates for a dedicated facility while continuing to evaluate the most appropriate long-term solution.  The discussion revolved around whether new building construction is more cost-effective for taxpayers versus purchasing a building and retrofitting it for the needs. Also discussed were the new cameras installed at all district campuses.  The cameras are very high-tech and will allow for staff, administration and law enforcement to respond quickly to threats as well as having the ability to basically have eyes on each classroom, hallway and perimeter of the schools.  A discussion was held as to whether the cameras, particularly the perimeter ones, have good views of the area outside the schools.  There have been some trees removed and trimmed at several schools to allow better views but that the cameras can be moved if found to be in an area with any obstructions.  Director Tress Gadash asked about the progress of updating the sound system in the LHS auditorium.  Dr. Krug said they are in the design process before bidding the job out and said once a bid is approved, the project should take no more than 9 months to complete.  The upgrade would include better and easier to use lighting, better speakers and a better overall sound system.

In giving the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Krug said the district is working out details with Lamar Community College for them to have access to the turf at the new stadium for their fall soccer games, as their field at Escondido Park is currently not suitable for play.  The plan is for this to be a one-year-only usage, as the LCC team’s preference is to play on grass vs. turf.   Dr. Krug gave comparison enrollment numbers for this school year compared to the previous two.  This year (excluding preschool which hasn’t started yet), the district has 1,252 students enrolled, which is 8 less than the 2025-2026 year and about equal with the 2024-2025 year.

To end the meeting, the Directors discussed the August Board Training items, which center around safety, including creating a culture of safety as well as a review of whether facilities are secure as well as preparedness, supervision, and response systems.  There was a good discussion concerning what the district can do to ensure community confidence and how best to earn the trust from families that strong systems are in place and that any concerns will be addressed.

The next meeting of the RE-2 Board will be held Monday, September 14 at 5:30 at the district offices.

By: Barbara Crimond