Audubon Community School District Superintendent Brett Gibbs has announced he’s retiring at the end of this current school year. Gibbs told KJAN News he handed in his resignation during a Monday evening meeting of the Audubon School Board. The Board accepted his letter of resign. He’s taking early retirement at the end of the current contract year, June 30 2019. Gibbs has served the Audubon School District for 12 years, and it “was time.” He spoke about what his plans are for retirement. He and his wife will move back to northeastern South Dakota, where he grew up and has family living.

A local search committee will meet next week to discuss finding Gibbs’ replacement. They will begin advertising for the position. The District will run its own search process, rather than hiring a profession “Head Hunter” firm to interview and weed out potential candidates. He said the Board thought that money would be better spent on the students. Gibbs will lead the search, but the Board has the final decision on who to hire.

In other, “bigger news,” according to Gibbs, the Audubon School District applying to the SBRC (School Budget Review Committee) for additional funding, because the district saw an increase in enrollment this year. It’s only the second time in his 12 years of being there that he’s seen an increase. It wasn’t entirely unexpected because there are two little classes that have been working their way through the system for the past 12 years. One graduated last year, the other will graduate in the Spring of 2019. He says they expect an increase next year, as well. The District’s Certified Enrollment is up 7.8 students. “Actual butts in seats,” according to Gibbs is up nearly 15 students. The open enrolled-in is greater than the outgoing, by around 10-to 12 students. The increase means an extra $53,000 per year from the State, which is what the District will levy to the SBRC.

Gibbs said also, that the Board is looking at have a committee meeting 6-p.m. next Monday in Audubon, to discuss continued sharing opportunities with Coon Rapids-Bayard, and their role in selecting a shared Superintendent. The Audubon District has already voted to continue sharing with CR-B, and he thinks CR-B is interested in continuing the arrangement as well. And, Gibbs was proud to announce Sophomore Anna Campbell recited the FFA Creed to the Board Monday night, as part of her preparation to represent Audubon County and the State at the National FFA Convention.