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USD 237 board approves superintendent contract extension, accepts FY 2024 audit and updates KSDE policies
Summary
At its Jan. 13 meeting, the USD 237 (Smith Center) Board of Education approved the district’s fiscal year 2023–24 audit, adopted KSDE board policy updates (deferring the Fundraising Policy DFH for further review), authorized the superintendent to make food purchasing decisions with Greenbush, and approved a contract extension for Superintendent Dustin McEwen for the 2026–2027 school year.
The USD 237 Board of Education met Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Smith Center and voted unanimously on several routine and personnel items, including approval of the district’s fiscal year 2023–24 audit and a contract extension for Superintendent Dustin McEwen.
The board approved the audit presented by Denis Miller of Mapes & Miller, CPA’s, after Miller reviewed the Independent Auditor’s Report and the district’s fund summaries. Miller told the board the audit was conducted under generally accepted auditing standards and the Kansas Municipal Audit and Accounting Guide. He said the audit found two compliance matters: the district did not make mandatory purchases from Kansas Industries for the Blind and Severely Disabled as required by K.S.A. 75-3322, and the High School Activities fund included outstanding checks older than two years that should be canceled under K.S.A. 10-816. Miller reported no other noncompliance and no budget violations. The board voted 7-0 to accept the audit.
The board also completed its second reading of KSDE board policy updates and approved them with one exception: the Fundraising Policy (DFH) was deferred to allow additional review. Superintendent Dustin McEwen recommended approval of the policies except DFH; the motion to adopt the remaining policies passed 7-0.
On food purchasing, the board approved a motion authorizing the superintendent to make decisions regarding a Food Purchasing Memorandum of Understanding with Greenbush. The board voted 7-0 to delegate that decision-making authority to Mr. McEwen.
Following multiple executive sessions under the non-elected personnel exception of the Kansas Open Meetings Act for the board’s evaluation of the superintendent, the board returned to open session and unanimously approved a contract extension for Superintendent Dustin McEwen for the 2026–2027 school year.
Votes at a glance: Approval of agenda (added Item 13b) — motion passed 7-0; Approval of consensus items (minutes, statements, donations, custodial contract for James Tilton, acceptance of Brenda Norton’s resignation, financial reports) — 7-0; Resolution to establish election of officers — 7-0; KSDE policies (DFH deferred) — 7-0; Approval of FY 2023–24 Audit Report — 7-0; Authorization for superintendent to decide food purchasing with Greenbush — 7-0; Approval of superintendent contract extension (2026–2027) — 7-0; Adjournment — 7-0.
The board signed the audit management representation letter and thanked Denis Miller for completing the audit. The minutes record Superintendent McEwen’s report on facilities matters, an upcoming Jan. 20 inservice, progress on cardiac policies, and contractor inspections. The meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.
