Blue Springs R‑IV board adopts staff‑student communication policy, accepts Moreland Ridge principal’s retirement

The Blue Springs R‑IV Board of Education voted unanimously at its October meeting to adopt board policy 3A23, titled “staff student communication and relations,” and to accept the retirement of Moreland Ridge Middle School principal Dr. Kelly Flax effective at the end of the school year.

Mrs. Talamentes presented policy 3A23 as a second and final reading and the board moved to approve it. President Swank called for a hand vote; the board recorded seven affirmative votes and the policy passed as presented.

Later in the meeting Superintendent Dr. Jerome submitted Dr. Flax’s letter of retirement. Dr. Jerome said Dr. Flax has 35 years in education, including 29 with the Blue Springs School District, and noted Flax began his career as a math teacher and later served as an elementary principal before leading Moreland Ridge. A board member moved to accept his request to retire; the motion passed on a 7–0 vote.

Board members offered public thanks and praise for Dr. Flax’s leadership at Moreland Ridge. Dr. Jerome said he will “miss having that around” and commended Flax’s team‑player attitude; the board’s remarks emphasized gratitude and best wishes for his next steps.

Votes at a glance: • Policy 3A23 (staff‑student communication and relations) — motion to adopt: moved and seconded from the floor; vote 7–0; outcome: approved. • Acceptance of retirement — motion to accept Dr. Kelly Flax’s retirement effective end of school year; vote 7–0; outcome: approved.

The board moved on after those approvals; no implementation details or timelines for the new policy were specified during the meeting.