Many personnel changes at South Barber USD255

Teacher/board negotiations agreement reached and approved

 


The South Barber Board of Education met for their June meeting Monday evening with a full agenda highlighted with many personnel changes.

Board President Mark Pollock called the meeting to order with all members present including: Mike Miller, Ryan Molz, Melissa Simpson, Bryan Quick, Deb Helfrich and Mariah Doherty. Superintendent Dr. Mylo Miller and Board Clerk Julie Johnson also sat at the board table.

The board held a series of executive sessions totaling one hour and 35 minutes to discuss a variety of subjects from negotiations to personnel changes. Upon entering open session the board approved many personnel changes. With the departure of Adam Maloney as elementary coordinator, the job of principal was open.

Superintendent Miller was approved by the board as part-time head elementary principal. They said he'll receive a $20,000 stipend for that position.

Fourth grade teacher Kaynette Scheck was selected by her peers as Teacher of the Year for the elementary school last year. The board approved Scheck as part-time assistant elementary principal. She will also continue to teach part-time. The board announced that Scheck will receive $10,000 for the assistant principal position in addition to her normal teaching contract.

Longtime teacher Cathy Cox received board approval to teach K-12 vocal music. She started her career in the late 1970s teaching vocal at South Barber and taught music again there several years ago. She also taught vocal at Medicine Lodge. She's taught at-risk students many years and was doing that at South Barber last year. Cox replaces Naicee Sutter who resigned to take a vocal music position at Alva schools.

Longtime teacher Danielle Jewell will again be a full-time teacher. When she came to SB from Burlington, where she was a full-time teacher, she taught At-Risk 7-12 and study skills and science to 7th and 8th graders. Jewell said she will now teach full-time at the junior high level, most likely teaching English and study skills, but she and Principal Shaffer are still finalizing the schedule.

The board accepted the resignation of Becky Buckle as third grade teacher. A Kiowa resident and longtime teacher, Buckle is the new pre-K teacher at SB and employed by the South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative. The new third grade teacher is Dale Jean Probst who has been teaching at the high school and is a Medicine Lodge resident.

The head high school girls basketball coach for the Lady Chieftains will be Skylar (Cowan) Houlton. She married Kiowa native Colby Houlton last October after dating since 2012. Raised in Texas, she played basketball since kindergarten and also played volleyball there. She later played college volleyball at Vernon Junior College in Vernon, Texas where she met Colby who was on the rodeo team. She earned a nursing degree at Tarleton State College. As an RN she works as needed at Kiowa District Hospital and Share Medical Center in Alva.

Janet Cook got the board's approval as the junior high volleyball head girls coach. From Hardtner, Cook has coached SB volleyball previously.

The board accepted the resignation of athletic director and longtime coach Steve Roberts as the SBHS head girls volleyball coach. He was hired as the junior high girls' assistant volleyball coach.

The board accepted the resignation of Alyssa Gonzales from the high school secretary position. Longtime school secretary Kay Roberts will return to the high school from the central office. She will continue being in charge of child nutrition.

Three people received board approval for summer help at the following extra duty hourly pay. They are: Steve Roberts, $11; Mary Lynn Meyers, $10.50; and Tim Carey, $10.50.

Other South Barber Board Business

The amendments and updates to the teacher negotiated agreement received board approval.

After a presentation by a rep of Keystone Food Services at last month's meeting, the board agreed to enter a contract with them.

Because The Kiowa News no longer exists, the board approved The Gyp Hill Premiere as the official paper for USD 255.

The board agreed to have an ex-officio student board member. However, they've not yet appointed a student.

An agenda item regarded re-districting of USD 255 to be at-large board members for the next elections. The board wants to hear from the public before voting on this issue.

The board approved student and adult meal prices and other associated costs for 2019-2020. They also approved the 2020 Program Agreement for Child Nutrition and Wellness with the Kansas State Department of Education.

A landscaping proposal for the elementary school received board approval. This is for a bench and planter surrounded by bushes, monkey grass and more in a landscaped setting. Administrators voiced appreciation to the Myrtle King Estate for this gift valued at $4,000. Dr. Miller said the project stayed within the budget.

Superintendent Miller said the new carpet in the high school library is complete. At the elementary the basement classroom was moved up to the former computer room as there is termite damage and some water issues.

Miller said over 50 students are eating during the Summer Food Service Program. Principal Shaffer said 10 students are enrolled in driver's ed. He said projected numbers for fall enrollment are 46 at the high school and 31 at the junior high. The principal said he is making graduation requirement changes beginning with the Class of 2022 and some with the Class of 2020.

 

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