Hunter returns for 17th year as Little Wound superintendent

KYLE - Earlier this spring, Linda Hunter decided that 16 years as superintendent of Little Wound School was enough and decided to move on; the school board reviewed the applications of several potential new superintendents and following interviews offered Hunter the position, she accepted.

Hunter worked as an English teacher in the junior high and high school and was high school principal and early childhood director before moving into the superintendent's position. She has worked for Little Wound School in one capacity or another for 28 years.

"We are looking forward to a new year, looking at the nuts and bolts of student achievement while we gather data for instructional improvement," said Hunter, "we are looking at staff development, student improvement and alternatives for improving student behavior while we improve our working relationships with parents-the board is looking at spending stimulus money wisely for student improvement, improving facilities and school infrastructure."

In early June, the board of the South Dakota High School Activities Association approved a list of 16 individuals who would receive their Distinguished Service Award for the 2009-10 school year; Linda Hunter is on the list to be honored during the 2010 State A boy's basketball tournament in Sioux Falls. Following a nomination process, the SDHSAA board selected Hunter for her significant long term contributions to high school athletic and fine arts activities in the state and giving outstanding service to the youth of the state.

"One of our goals this year is to work to repair and replace campus infrastructure, especially the campus water and sewer system, estimated at a cost of near $2.3 million," said Cecelia Fire Thunder, who has served for more than 15 years on the school board, "parts of the school were built in 1934, 75 years ago, it was really the first infrastructure in the community of Kyle, we've had many additions over the years - we need to take advantage of the new pipeline as it comes through town both for the school and the community to upgrade our water systems."

Last school year, one of the Little Wound middle school buildings was closed after finding asbestos; administrative offices were used for middle school classrooms. The Bureau worked at cleaning up the asbestos, decided not to demolish the building, will pay for and work on an abatement program; the school will turn that building into administrative officesand work on acquiring modulars for middle school classrooms.

"It has been disappointing to see the lack of support from the Bureau in dealing with the asbestos problem and the need for middle school classroom space," said Fire Thunder, "to get anything done, you have to keep talking about it, working on it, pushing the dialogue and holding their feet to the fire."