The Hamilton USD 390 Board of Education held two meetings last month. On Feb. 14, the board met for their routine monthly meeting. The board then met on Feb. 26 for a special meeting. The following report was generated from the official minutes, which are subject to board approval.
Feb. 14 Regular Meeting
The Feb. 14 meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. with board members Mike Mallek, Stuart Woodie, Dee Elliott, Brad Martin, Kara Nutsch and Shannon Spradlin present. Others attending included Superintendent Mike Ronen, Principal Stephanie Nelson, Clerk Claudia Deeder, Lora McDonald, Parker Gates, Renee Jones, Braden Jones, Jesse Schneider Trystan Hutchinson and Teagn Brinkmeyer.
The agenda and consent agenda, including the Jan. 14 board minutes, the treasurer’s report and the list of warrants as presented, were approved.
Principal Nelson reported on Dr. Watson presenting the students and staff the Commissioners Award with the highest distinction. Construction on the greenhouse has begun. They are estimating it to be done in five to six weeks.
McDonald, the Music and FACS teacher, reported on some new equipment and the activities going on in her classroom.
Gates, the PE and Health teacher, reported on the activities in his classroom and that the school received the BlueCross and BlueShield Foundation grant they used to buy new equipment for PE.
Superintendent Ronen reported on fund balances as of Jan. 31 and showed the new accountability report from the KSDE.
There was no patron or staff input.
In old business, the class of 2024 was present with sponsors to report on the plans they have while in Hawaii. No action was taken.
While discussing the Strategic Plan, the board discussed housing in Hamilton. No action was taken.
The board discussed thoughts on appointing a board member. No action was taken.
Elliott moved and Martin seconded to approve the updated Special Education ESI Policy. The vote was 6-0, motion carried.
Martin moved and Elliott seconded to approve the amendment to Article IV, section 1 of the Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative Articles of Agreement document as submitted. The vote was 6-0, motion carried.
The board held an executive session, to discuss certified staff contracts for onehour, with Superintendent Ronen and Principal Nelson joining.
After returning to open session, Woodie moved and Elliott seconded to approve Gates’s resignation at the end of the school year. The vote was 6-0, motion carried.
The board then held a five-minute executive session for student matters, with Superintendent Ronen and Principal Nelson.
Elliott moved and Woodie seconded to approve the outof- district student request. The vote was 6-0, motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
Feb.26 Special Meeting
The Feb. 26 special meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. with board members Elliott, Mallek, Martin, Woodie, Nutsch and Spradlin present. Others present included Clerk Deeder, Principal Nelson, Deanna Ebberts, Lisa Ballard and Cheri Nicholson. Following the approval of the agenda, the board held an executive session for onehour to conduct interviews with Superintendent candidates. Principal Nelson, Clerk Deeder, Ebberts and Ballard were asked to remain in the meeting. Nicholson was asked to join the meeting at 6:14 p.m.
The board extended the executive session by approving a motion to enter another executive session for onehour to conduct interviews with Superintendent candidates, with Nelson, Deeder, Ebberts, Ballard and Nicholson remaining in the session. Nicholson exited the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Superintendent Ronen was asked to join the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
The open meeting was reconvened at 8:02 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
The Hamilton USD 390 Board of Education also held special meetings on March 6 and 7, to interview superintendent candidates. Their regular March meeting was slated for Monday, March 13. The Hamilton Board of Education meets routinely on the second Wednesday of the month, at 7 p.m. The next meeting is slated for Wednesday, April 10, at 7 p.m.
