The Hamilton USD 390 Board of Education met on Jan. 10, for a regular monthly meeting, in the board meeting room.
Board members present included: Mike Mallek, Stuart Woodie, Dee Elliott, Kara Nutsch and Shannon Spradlin. Board member Brad Martin was absent. Others attending included: Superintendent Mike Ronen, Principal Stephanie Nelson, Clerk Claudia Deeder, Renee Jones, Braden Jones, Parker Gates, Samantha Watts, Rylie Watts, Sophia Rayburn and Jesse Schneider.
President Mallek called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Board Members and others in attendance participated in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Woodie moved and Elliott seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
Elliott moved and Nutsch seconded to approve the consent agenda that included the minutes from the regular board meeting on Dec. 13, 2023, the treasurer’s report, list of warrants, activity fund reports and the petty cash fund report. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
Principal Nelson gave a presentation on the Christmas program, STUCO activities, door decorating contest, ROAR projects, Evergy delivering meals for three families, two student-athletes recognized by the Grasslands sports and items being created with the 3D printers. She also reported on a districtwide increase in Fastbride reading and math scores.
Upcoming events are as follows: High School LCL Basketball Tournament Jan. 22-27; Junior High Quiz Feb. 1; Winter Royalty Feb. 2; 4-H Days Feb. 10. The junior high basketball teams competed in the LCL Basketball Tournament Jan. 13.
S. Watts showed the board what she is doing in her English Literature, Journalism and Web Design classes.
Superintendent Ronen discussed incoming funds in January, the March BOE meeting and announced that Dr. Watson will be in Hamilton on Jan. 29 around 9:30 a.m. to present the students and staff with the Commissioners award with highest distinction.
R. Watts and Sophia Rayburn asked the board if the Willow Valley 4-H group could use the cafeteria for 4-H days on Feb. 10. The board permitted them.
There was no staff input. In new business, Nutsch moved and Elliott seconded to approve the Class of 2024 Senior Trip to Hawaii on April 30 - May 5. The Senior class will present to the board in February with more details. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
Superintendent Ronen discussed open enrollment with the board, lights in parking lots and cameras. No action was taken.
The board left the board room to look at the lights in the gym at 8:04 p.m. and returned to the board room at 8:08 p.m. Elliott moved and Woodie seconded to approve the upgrade to the gymnasium lighting with a purchase from Stanion Electric and installation by Western Electric for $2,251.30. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
The board discussed filling the open position or leaving it open for now. No action was taken.
Elliott moved and Woodie seconded to appoint Martin and Mallek on the board negotiation team. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
Woodie moved and Elliott seconded to go into executive session at 8:20 p.m. to discuss certified teacher evaluations pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA for 30 minutes and that the open meeting will resume in the board room at 8:50 p.m. Superintendent Ronen was asked to remain in the meeting. The vote was 5-0, motion carried. Mallek reconvened the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
Elliott moved and Nutsch seconded to hire Angela Garcia as the new Title I para. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
Nutsch moved and Elliott seconded to accept the retirement of Superintendent Ronen effective at the end of the school year. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
Elliott moved and Woodie seconded to go into executive session at 9 p.m. to discuss confidential student information pursuant to the exception relating to actions affecting a student under KOMA for 10 minutes and that the open meeting will resume in the board room at 9:10 p.m. Ronen and Nelson were asked to remain in the meeting. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
Mallek reconvened the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
Woodie moved and Elliott seconded to accept nine out-of-district students. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
Spradlin moved and Woodie seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:12 p.m. The vote was 5-0, motion carried.
(Editor’s note: the above report was generated from the unofficial minutes of the board meeting, which are subject to board approval.)
