Emporia board affirms extended-term student suspension, approves facility rental updates and regional hazard plan

The Emporia Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 11 affirmed an extended-term suspension recommended by a hearing officer and approved several administrative measures, including revised facility rental rates and the district's participation in the Kansas Region 1 Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Following a series of executive sessions about confidential student information under the Kansas Open Meetings Act, a motion to adopt Resolution 2026-6 to affirm the extended-term suspension was moved by a board member (Speaker 13) and seconded; the board approved the resolution 5-2. The district announced the action in open session; the superintendent and legal counsel had been invited into the executive sessions. The board's meeting record shows the vote tally (5 yes, 2 no) but does not list individual votes in the public record provided.

Earlier in the meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations Josh Schwartz presented updated facility usage guidelines and a revised fee table that consolidate several zero-fee categories, add progressive disciplinary steps for misuse, clarify tie-breaking on requests (allowing first/second/third choices on the usage form) and ask groups to estimate attendance so custodial needs are assessed. A board member (Speaker 5) moved to approve the updated facility rental rates and revised usage guidelines "as submitted;" the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote, 7-0.

Also on the consent and action calendar, the board considered and approved the Kansas Homeland Security Region 1 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Doctor Mickelson presented the plan and noted the district is one of the participating jurisdictions; Speaker 5 moved to approve Resolution 2026-5 and authorize submission to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and FEMA Region 7. The motion passed 7-0.

Votes at a glance - Adoption of the agenda: Passed 7-0. - Consent agenda: Passed 7-0. - Facility rental rates and usage guidelines (Item 6a): Motion to approve passed 7-0 (mover: Speaker 5; second: Speaker 3). - Resolution 2026-5 (adopt 2025 Kansas Region 1 Hazard Mitigation Plan): Passed 7-0 (mover: Speaker 5; second: Speaker 2). - Resolution 2026-6 (affirm extended-term suspension): Passed 5-2 (mover: Speaker 13; second: Speaker 5).

What the board said "Thanks for having this back on the agenda, Ian," said Josh Schwartz when introducing the facility-rate revisions, noting the packet contained a clean copy and summaries of prior edits. Superintendent David McGehee and board members framed the hazard-mitigation approval as a routine five-year reauthorization required for continued participation in FEMA planning.

Next steps The approved facility guidelines will be implemented according to the updated procedure; the hazard-mitigation plan will be submitted to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and FEMA Region 7 for final approval. The district record shows the extended-term suspension action is final as adopted; the public minutes list the motion and the 5-2 outcome.