USD 505 board holds multiple executive sessions under K.S.A. 75-4319; no public action

The Unified School District No. 505 Board of Education invoked Kansas statute 75-4319 multiple times during its Nov. 10 meeting to go into executive session for the purpose of protecting the parties involved while discussing one student matter and several non-elected personnel issues, including separations, new hires and employee performance and evaluation.

Josh Baker moved, and Maggy Robison seconded, the board's first executive-session motion to discuss a student matter with Dr. Williams and Renee Gillard; the motion passed 5-0 and the board returned to open session at 7:36 p.m. No public action was taken following the session. The board later voted several additional times—motions moved by Josh Baker or Kari Chambers and seconded by Maggy Robison or Josh Baker—to enter executive session with Dr. Williams and administrators Jolene Hall or Renee Gillard for non-elected personnel discussions; those motions were recorded as passed, generally 5-0.

The transcript records a sequence of end times cited in the motions (including 7:42 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 7:52 p.m., 7:57 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 8:03 p.m., 8:12 p.m., 8:17 p.m., 8:23 p.m., and 8:28 p.m.). Each time the board resumed open meeting; the minutes show no public votes or final actions resulting directly from those executive sessions.

The board stated participants for the executive sessions included Dr. Williams (Assistant Superintendent) and, at various times, Jolene Hall (Chetopa K–12 administrator) and Renee Gillard (St. Paul administrator). The board voted to approve personnel items in open session later in the meeting (see meeting recap).