U.S.D. #338 Valley Falls
Board of Education Meeting
March 20, 2023
5:30 P.M.
Minutes
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by President, Donny Smith, at 5:30 P.M. in the District Office Conference Room.
Present: Donny Smith, Aaron Sprang, Kimberly Kirkham, Caleb Clark, Jesica Clark, Jesse Nickelson, John Hamon and Brenda Henson.
Absent: Georgia Hollis
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion by Jesica Clark second by Kimberly Kirkham to approve the agenda as presented.
Yes 6 No 0
3. REVIEW BOARD NORMS AND BOARD GOALS
4. COMMENTS FROM PATRONS AND GUESTS
None.
5. ACTION ITEMS
a. Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Aaron Sprang to approve the 2023 EMC Property Insurance quote as amended.
Yes 6 No 0
b. Motion by Jesica Clark second by Jesse Nickelson to approve the mowing bid from Bryan Williams.
Yes 6 No 0
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by the President at 5:40 P.M.
U.S.D. #338 Valley Falls
Board of Education Meeting
March 6, 2023
6:30 P.M.
Minutes
1 CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by President, Donny Smith, at 6:30 P.M. in the library.
Present: Donny Smith, Aaron Sprang, Kimberly Kirkham, Caleb Clark, Jesica Clark, Jesse Nickelson, Georgia Hollis, John Hamon and Brenda Henson.
2. Recess to tour the greenhouse.
The Board left the library at 6:30 P.M. and returned at 6:41 P.M.
3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion by Caleb Clark second by Jesica Clark to approve the agenda as amended.
Yes 7 No 0
4. REVIEW BOARD NORMS & BOARD GOALS
5. COMMENTS FROM PATRONS AND GUESTS
None.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
Approve Minutes of Previous Meetings.
Approve Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Warrants.
Receive Keystone Board Meeting Report.
Receive Site Council Minutes.
Receive CCC Minutes.
i. Approve CCC Bylaws.
Receive Recreation Commission Minutes. There was no meeting.
Receive Health/Wellness Committee Minutes.
Approve resignations as follows: Margo Ellerman as Middle School Volleyball Head Coach and Middle School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach and Seth Cooper as Middle School Assistant Volleyball Coach.
Approve hiring as follows: Jennifer Lotspeich as Elementary Teacher (Column 1, Step 9) + $500.00 signing bonus. Amanda Vanderharr as Middle School Track Head Coach. Sway Schmelzle as Middle School Assistant Track Coach. Troy Smith as Middle School Assistant Track Coach if there are over 30 participants.
The Board received a written report in the Board packet from Susan Grey and Greg Morgan.
Motion by Aaron Sprang second by Georgia Hollis to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Yes 7 No 0
Old Business
7. Information Items
a. The Board received a Superintendent report regarding Reality U; Website/Social Media Survey; 2 Hour Delay Survey; and spring sports numbers of participants.
New Business
8. Information Items
a. The Board did not receive any written communications.
9. Discussion Items
a. The Board discussed District Goals as follows: Enhance Student Learning Opportunities; Staffing Issues-Effective Use, Attract and Retain; and Increase Parent and Community Involvement.
b. The Board discussed a bond construction and track update regarding Fisher Tracks.
c. The Board discussed the District Health and Wellness Plan.
10. ACTION ITEMS
a. Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Jesica Clark to approve to use Healthy Futures-Free Dental Program-Laura Gigstad for the 2023-24 school year.
Yes 7 No 0
b. Motion by Jesica Clark second by Kimberly Kirkham to approve to provide transportation for the second grade field trip to Lego Land and out-of-state travel.
Yes 7 No 0
c. Motion by Jesica Clark second by Georgia Hollis to approve to provide transportation for the 6th Grade Field Trip to the Kansas City Zoo and out-of-state travel.
Yes 7 No 0
d. Motion by Jesica Clark second by Georgia Hollis to approve to provide transportation for the 7th-8th grade field trip to UrbanAir.
Yes 7 No 0
e. Motion by Jesica Clark second by Kimberly Kirkham to approve FCCLA’s request for a bus and a van for transportation for STAR Leadership Conference and $1000.00 to support student costs and $380.08 for sponsor expenses to be distributed to the FCCLA activity fund.
Yes 7 No 0
f. No action taken regarding the EMC property insurance.
g. No action taken regarding the summer mowing bids.
h. No action taken regarding the donation of field turf from VFAA.
i. Motion by Georgia Hollis second by Aaron Sprang to close Fund 8020 (Old Shop Fund) and transfer those funds to Fund 8015 (Ag Ed).
Yes 7 No 0
j. Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Aaron Sprang to approve to accept the Fisher Tracks bid proposal, to include the black structural spray for the track, and to not exceed $451,000.00.
Yes 7 No 0
k. Motion by Georgia Hollis second by Jesica Clark to go into executive session beginning at 7:53 P.M. to discuss matters of non-elected personnel that relates to performance and future potential contracts pursuant to the exception relating to personnel under KOMA, K.S.A. 75-4319 et seq. The board will reconvene in this room at 8:03 P.M. Greg Morgan, Stacy Cervantez and John Hamon were present during the session. Stacy Cervantez left the session at 8:19 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 8:10 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 8:15 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 8:20 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 8:25 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 8:30 P.M.
Yes 7 No 0
The Board meeting returned to open session at 8:31 P.M.
l. Motion by Georgia Hollis second by Jesica Clark to go into executive session beginning at 8:32 P.M. to discuss matters of negotiations and contracts for the fiscal year 2024 pursuant to negotiations under KOMA, K.S.A. 75-4319 et seq. The board will reconvene in this room at 8:42 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 8:47 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 8:52 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 8:57 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 9:02 P.M.
Yes 7 No 0
The Board meeting returned to open session at 8:58 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by the President at 8:58 P.M.
U.S.D. #338 Valley Falls
Board of Education Meeting
March 7, 2022
6:30 P.M.
Unofficial Minutes
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by President, Donny Smith, at 6:30 P.M. in the library.
Present: Donny Smith, Aaron Sprang, Kimberly Kirkham, Caleb Clark, Jesica Clark, John Lederer, Dr. Volora Hanzlicek and Brenda Henson.
Absent: Georgia Hollis.
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Caleb Clark to approve the agenda as amended.
Yes 6 No 0
3. REVIEW BOARD NORMS
4. COMMENTS FROM PATRONS AND GUESTS
None.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approve Minutes of Previous Meetings.
b. Approve Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Warrants.
c. Receive Keystone Board Meeting Report.
d. Receive Site Council Minutes-canceled due to weather.
e. Receive CCC Minutes-February Minutes already approved.
f. Receive Recreation Commission Minutes-no meeting in February.
g. Approve resignations as follows: Suzanne Stout as Instructional Specialist, PDC Chair and High School Lead Teacher; Kaydie Brandl as Ag Teacher and FFA Sponsor; Cody Magee as Elementary Physical Education, Assistant Football Coach and Head Middle School Boys Basketball.
h. Approve hiring an additional middle school track coach due to numbers of participants.
i. Approve hiring as follows: Patty Bendure, Tina Roberts, Julie Craft, Carly Henson, Cooper Jepson, Gage Burdiek, and Aleyna Grandpre as summer custodial help; Shelby Denton and Amanda Vanderharr as Middle School Track Coaches.
j. The Board received a written report in the Board packet from Susan Grey and Greg Morgan.
Motion by Jesica Clark second by Aaron Sprang to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Yes 6 No 0
Old Business
6. Information Items
a. The Board received a Superintendent report regarding a teacher retention survey, possible State Competition information for boys basketball and a KSDE report on graduation rates.
New Business
7. Information Items
a. The presentation from the High School-FCCLA MS and HS level STAR events going to state competition was postponed.
b. The Board received a thank you note from the family of Brent Craft.
c. The Board received reports from Caleb Clark regarding Keystone; John Lederer regarding Economic Development; Aaron Sprang, Kimberly Kirkham and Donny Smith regarding the Foundation; and Jesica Clark regarding the Curriculum Coordinating Council.
8. Discussion Items
a. The Board discussed budget projections as it relates to the fiscal year 2022 budget and revenue projections for fiscal year 2023.
b. The Board discussed a bond update.
9. ACTION ITEMS
a. Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Jesica Clark to allow the use of Healthy Futures, a free dental program and comprehensive care, as presented by Laura Gigstad.
Yes 6 No 0
b. Motion by Aaron Sprang second by Kimberly Kirkham to approve the following COVID protocols: to move to make masks optional on district transportation and to allow public entrance during school activities and programs when appropriate during the school day with masks optional.
Yes 6 No 0
c. Motion by Caleb Clark second by Aaron Sprang to approve the School Calendar for FY2023 as presented.
Yes 6 No 0
d. The action regarding middle school cross country was tabled.
ei. Motion by Caleb Clark second by Kimberly Kirkham to approve Option #3 with regard to the size of the track being six lanes.
Yes 6 No 0
eii. Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Aaron Sprang to approve the placement of the pole vault pit and length of the runway as follows: west endzone and up to 120 feet for the runway.
Yes 6 No 0
eiii. Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Caleb Clark to approve the placement of the triple jump/long jump on the east side of the field.
Yes 6 No 0
f. Motion by Jesica Clark second by Caleb Clark to approve the second grade field trip to Steamboat Arabia on April 14th that is out of state-Missouri.
Yes 6 No 0
g. Motion by Aaron Sprang second by Caleb Clark to approve the EMC Property Insurance as presented and to not drop any vehicle coverage and to not add additional employment coverage.
Yes 6 No 0
h. Motion by Aaron Sprang second by Kimberly Kirkham to approve the Greenbush Memorandum of Understanding for physics (FY23).
Yes 6 No 0
i. Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Caleb Clark to go into executive session beginning at 8:50 P.M. to discuss matters relating to a student and remote hours pursuant to the exception relating to matters relating to a student under KOMA, K.S.A. 75-4319 et seq. The board will reconvene in this room at 8:53 P.M. Dr. Hanzlicek was present in the Executive Session.
Yes 6 No 0
The Board meeting returned to open session at 8:53 P.M.
i. Motion by Jesica Clark second by Caleb Clark to approve to waive remote hours for the students listed in the Executive Session for February.
Yes 6 No 0
j. Motion by Kimberly Kirkham second by Caleb Clark to go into executive session beginning at 8:54 P.M. to discuss matters of non-elected personnel that relates to performance and contracts for future potential contracts pursuant to the exception relating to personnel under KOMA, K.S.A. 75-4319 et seq. The board will reconvene in this room at 9:15 P.M. Dr. Hanzlicek was present in the Executive Session. The Board extended the executive session until 9:25 P.M. The Board extended the executive session until 9:30 P.M.
Yes 6 No 0
The Board meeting returned to open session at 9:32 P.M.
i. Motion by Jesica Clark second by Aaron Sprang to approve to extend the Principals’ contracts one year.
Yes 6 No 0
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by the President at 9:32 P.M.