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Caldwell school board elects officers, approves annual handbooks and insurance, and OKs grant applications
Summary
At its July 21 meeting the Caldwell USD 360 Board elected officers, approved routine annual resolutions and handbooks, selected Conrade Insurance Group/KICS for property coverage, authorized two grant applications, discussed an Oct. 20 candidate forum, and approved 2025-26 supplemental positions after executive sessions.
The Caldwell Unified School District No. 360 Board of Education reorganized leadership and completed routine year‑start business at its July 21 regular meeting in the district office. Board members elected Darren McDorman president, Kordell Kattenberg vice‑president, Skyler Mendez board clerk and Denise Eckermann treasurer; each election passed on recorded 6‑0 votes.
The board approved a package of annual items required for the 2025–26 school year: participation in federal programs (Title I, Title IIA, Title IID, Title IV‑A, Title V and Federal Food Service), the 2025–26 certified and classified handbooks, the District Crisis Plan, the 2025–26 District Needs Assessment and recommended policy updates from the Kansas Association of School Boards. The consent agenda also included numerous personnel and operational appointments, such as deputy clerks, food‑service representatives, program coordinators, truancy officers and the school board attorneys; these were approved on a single consent vote.
On financial matters, the board authorized benefit providers under the Section 125 cafeteria plan (including life, disability and reimbursement providers), approved petty cash limits for the Central Office and each school, designated Stock Exchange Bank and Impact Bank as official depositories, and adopted several resolutions including an annual GAAP waiver (pursuant to KSA 75‑1120a(c)) and the authority for the clerk and superintendent to pay certain claims in advance where discounts or penalties apply (KSA 12‑1056). The board set the district transportation mileage reimbursement at $0.45 for the 2024–25 school year and adopted a $0.70 per‑mile rate for district business consistent with the state’s rate.
Superintendent Traci Becker presented property insurance options and the board selected Conrade Insurance Group/KICS Property Insurance to provide coverage; the minutes note any mid‑term changes would be prorated and reimbursed to the district. Becker also proposed hosting a Board of Education candidate forum on Oct. 20, 2025, to introduce the public to candidates for three open BOE seats; the forum date is contingent on candidate participation and further planning.
The board authorized submission of two grant applications that staff member Shannon Volavka is pursuing; minutes state that acceptance of any awarded grants will require subsequent board approval of gifted funds. In her report, Superintendent Becker said federal funding cuts expected in FY26 will affect the district, specifically reductions to Title IIA and Title IV‑A compared with FY25; the minutes put the FY25 impact at roughly $20,500.
The board entered multiple executive sessions under the Kansas Open Meetings Act for limited purposes — preliminary discussion of real property acquisition and discussion of non‑elected personnel. The sessions were time‑limited with specific in/out times recorded. After the personnel sessions the board approved the 2025–26 supplemental positions as presented; that approval was by motion and recorded as a 6‑0 vote.
The board set its 2025–26 regular meeting schedule, confirmed the Caldwell Messenger as the district’s official newspaper, and adjourned at 7:59 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 11, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
