Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting –March 22, 2022
The meeting was called to order by Board President Cale Rieger in the administration office on the above date at 7:00 p.m. with everyone present.
Superintendent Penka requested one change to the agenda: add 5) Old Business b) Cheylin COOP discussion. J.W. Milliken made a motion to approve the agenda with the one addition; the motion was seconded by Troy Hilt and carried.
The Board reviewed and discussed the items on the consent calendar. A motion was then made by Dustin Andrist, seconded by Troy Hilt, to approve the consent calendar, including the following items: a) The minutes of the regular Board meeting on February 10, 2022. b) A list of bills being paid on direct deposit slips numbering 0218001 – 0218077 and on checks numbering 11951-11969 on BANKWEST, and checks numbering 15702-15748 on FNB Bank for a total of $361,323.09. c) The Cash Summary Report (including two transfers: $5,455.00 from General Fund to the Food Service Fund (January), and $3,228.84 from the General Fund to the Food Service Fund (February))¸ the Grade School Activity Fund Report, and the High School Activity Fund Report – all as of February 28, 2022. d) The following gift offers were approved: $75,356.60 from the Roland H. Hoffman revocable trust to be used for scholarships; $9,858.03 CFDA grant for milk, fruits, vegetables to assist with the inflated prices.
No Audiences.
Shayla Orten will have the necessary scholarship information ready for the scholarship committee sometime later this month. We will contact the scholarship committee members with a meeting day and time.
Under Old Business Superintendent Penka discussed some of the legislative issues regarding schools.
Next under Old Business Superintendent Penka reported that Cheylin USD #103 has given notice of a Special Board meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 23rd , 6:30 p.m. at the Bird City EMS building. USD #297 has accepted the invitation to attend. This meeting will be to discuss the sports COOP between Cheylin and St. Francis. At this time under New Business, Superintendent Penka discussed some of the staffing needs at this time. We have the following vacant positions: High School Social Studies; Grade School Special Education; and replacement for Jerry Whitmore beginning May 1 and shadowing him until his retirement on November 22, 2022.
The Board was reminded that by law (K.S.A. 72-5411, as amended), a school board must notify a teacher in writing on or before the third Friday in May (May 20 th this year) if said teacher’s contract will not be renewed; and a teacher must notify the school board in writing on or before 14 days after the third Friday in May (June 3rd this year) if (s)he is resigning from their teaching contract.
Contract offers and proposed reassignments (if any) for the 2022-2023 school year can be acted-on at the regular meeting on April 14, 2022, or at the May 12, 2022, meeting if necessary.
In new business under personnel items, Superintendent Penka reported that we have received a resignation letter from Hannah Billinger, resigning from her duties at the end of the current school year. Miss Billinger been with the district for two years. We have also received a resignation from Jeff Olofson, resigning his duties as basketball athletic director assistant effective immediately. A letter of resignation was received from Jerry Whitmore retiring as of November 22, 2022. A letter of resignation was received from ShayLinn Zweygardt, resigning her position as the high school girls’ basketball coach. Also, a letter of resignation was received from Cory Busse resigning his position as the high school boys’ basketball coach. Chris Hingst made a motion to accept these resignations; the motion was seconded by J.W. Milliken and carried.
Also under personnel items, the hiring committee recommended Brock Waters for the High School Social Studies teaching position; as well as head high school boys’ basketball coach and junior high track coach and Justin Lohr to be assistant junior high track coach. Chris Hingst made a motion to approve these two hires; motion seconded by Troy Hilt and carried.
At this point in the meeting, Superintendent Penka requested a 30 minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel issues. Dustin Andrist made the following motion: Mr. President, I move that the board recess into executive session to discuss the performance of individual staff members in order to protect their privacy pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA and that the open meeting shall resume at 9:17 P.M. in the board room. The motion was seconded by Troy Hilt and carried. At 9:17 P.M., J. W. Milliken requested an addition 10 minutes in executive session, seconded by Troy Hilt and carried. Regular session resumed at 9:27 P.M. with no decisions being made.
Under miscellaneous items Troy Hilt requested a 5 minute executive session to discuss a student issue. J.W. Milliken made the motion to go into executive session; seconded by Shawna Blanka and carried. Regular meeting resumed at 9:35 p.m.
Review of School-Improvement Process:
- March 9 – Outside Validation Team meeting
- March 24 – Leadership for Tomorrow Cohort
- April 21 – Outside Validation Team meeting
Superintendent Penka reported on the Short- and Long-Term Facility Improvement Plan.
The next scheduled Board meeting will be held on April 14, 2022, at 7:00 a.m.
At 9:48 p.m., Danielle McAtee moved that the meeting adjourn; the motion was seconded by Chris Hingst and carried.
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