The Wethersfield Board of Education hired Galva Junior/Senior High School Principal Kurtis Smyth as the school district’s new superintendent at its February meeting Thursday night.
The board approved a three-year contract for Smyth for the 2026-2027 through 2028-2029 school years.
Smyth will take over on July 1, replacing Dr. Andrew Brooks. Dr. Brooks, who has been superintendent since 2022, resigned to take the top job in Knoxville. His contract at Wethersfield ends on June 30.
After the meeting, Dr. Brooks told The Kewanee Voice, “As outgoing superintendent, I am extremely excited about the selection of Mr. Smyth as Wethersfield’s new superintendent. His familiarity with the community and the school district and living in Kewanee, will serve him well in his new role.” He added that Smyth’s experience as a teacher and administrator will also be a plus.
The board also:
–Tabled a proposal from the Annawan School Board to co-op girl’s basketball. Less than three girls have expressed interest in participating in a team and the school cancelled the season for the first time this year.
Dr. Brooks said with that few girls interested in Annawan, Wethersfield had proposed letting them play on Wethersfield’s team without a formal co-op agreement, but sentiment in the Annawan community favors a Titans co-op.
In a lengthy discussion, board members felt more information was needed before entering into such an agreement and plans are being made to conduct a survey of Wethersfield parents and students to get their input before making a decision. It was felt that any co-op agreement should benefit both school districts. Wethersfield and Annawan have had successful co-op arrangements for many years for Titans football, golf, cross country, baseball, softball and track for many years. Only girls’ volleyball and boy’s and girls’ basketball teams are not co-opted at the present time.
–In his annual financial report, Dr. Brooks said Wethersfield’s report received “Financial Recognition,” the highest given by the state, with a score of 3.9 on a scale of 4. He said Wethersfield’s educational cost per student is $10,000, which is the amount that would be paid in tuition by anyone wanting to send their child to Wethersfield from outside of the district.
–Principal Tyler Nichols was asked about the cell phone policy for students at Wethersfield High School after the Kewanee School Board recently approved a “bell-to-bell” ban on cell phone use at KHS beginning next year. Nichols said Wethersfield students only have access to their phones between classes and during lunch. Phones are kept in individual containers during classes. He said the policy was put in place last year and, thus far, has worked well with the students respecting the restriction which has disciplinary repercussions in place for violators.
–Approved the hiring of Emma Claeys as a fifth-grade teacher for the 2026-2027 school year.
