Following executive session Monday evening, the South Barber Board of Education renewed the contracts of Superintendent Dr. Andi Williams and Principal Brent Shafer to 2020.

This was at the regular, under one March meeting of the board for USD 255 in Kiowa, Kansas. An agenda item was the resignation of K-6 Principal Eric Stoddard. His resignation was accepted in a single, unanimous vote with co-cheer sponsors Shawna Schupbach and Melissa Rector who is moving to Pratt.

Board Vice President Mark Pollock called the meeting to order in the absence of president Steve Allen. All other members attended including: Bryan Quick, Deb Helfrich, Mariah Doherty, Mike Miller and Melissa Simpson. Superintendent Williams and Board Clerk Julie Johnson also sat at the board table.

Williams provided board members with a list of the school’s insurance premiums from the last 10 years. Johnson researched the issue, which showed the proposed payment foe 2018 is $94,000. The same coverage was $55,000 in 2008.

The board advised Williams to “shop around.” The superintendent said she will look to the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) for guidance.

In her report to the board, the superintendent said the school is adding to the CTE Pathways: comprehensive agriculture science; construction and design; family and consumer science; business finance; government and public administration.

Teacher Pam Malone is teaching pathways as the school is growing this area, Williams said.

Before the board approved current bills, Johnson explained extra expenses as follows:

• The new track, $176,683.18 (paid mainly with insurance money from the storm)

• Insurance policy, $94,015

• Ag Farm roof, $4,021

• Rec Commission transfer, $44,560.64

Those additions make total bills approved $604,991.10.

Student Achievements and Upcoming Events

Principal Shaffer congratulated the Chieftains basketball team for third at the state tournament. The principal said, “The best part for me was when (senior) Dakota Vickers (who is not a starter) and shot from top of the key (made a three-pointer.)”

Shaffer said SB students had great results at the Heart of the Plains League (HOPL) Academic Olympics @ PCC.

SB’s team was third overall in small schools (competed against ALL schools: Haven, Clearwater, Pratt, Conway Springs, HOPL schools, etc. (Top 3 recognized) – Cole Coggins – Accounting 1st Overall; Nora Gugelmeyer – Algebra I 2nd Overall, English 1 2nd Overall; Taylor Pollock – Biology II 1st Overall; Fernando Fernandez – Chemistry 2nd Overall; Adrienne Allison – Geometry 3rd Overall;

4th HOPL (take out Division 2 like ML or Macksville then add back HOPL schools) – Cole Coggins – Accounting 1st; Taylor Pollock – Biology II 1st, Pre-Calculus 3rd; Adrienne Allison – Geometry 1st; Haylie Drake; Nora Gugelmeyer – Algebra I 2nd, English 1 2nd; Savannah Hughbanks – Algebra 2/Trig 2nd; Fernando Fernandez – Chemistry 2nd, Computer Science 5th, Physics 3rd; Brandon Baysinger – Computer Software Apps 4th; Erik Reimer – Geometry 3rd; Trae Rathgeber – Physics 5th; Katie Holcomb – Spanish 2 5th; Ines Jakob – Health 5th.

The track and boys tennis season is beginning.

At the HOPL music contest at Cunningham the SBHS received a I (Superior) rating and two ratings of II (Excellent). Shaffer said soloists Sterling Rector and Joseph Bowden received I ratings.