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USD 297 board approves principal contract extensions, buys vehicle and tables sixth‑grade sports decision
Summary
At its Jan. 16 meeting, the USD 297 Board approved a $54,650 vehicle purchase, extended two principals' contracts for two years after an executive session, approved payroll cash-management signatories and routine bills totaling $537,184.75, and tabled a decision on sixth‑grade sports until February.
The USD 297 Board of Education met on Jan. 16, 2025, in the district administration office. Board Vice‑President J.W. Milliken called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. The board approved several routine and personnel actions, voted to purchase a district vehicle, and tabled a separate policy question on sixth‑grade sports.
Superintendent Penka asked that the board move the public comment period (Audiences) to the start of the meeting; the board approved the revised agenda on a motion by Dustin Andrist, seconded by Chris Hingst. During public comment, Jordi Wiegers addressed the board to present her reasons for keeping sixth graders eligible to participate in school sports. The board discussed the issue but determined additional parent feedback was needed and tabled the matter until the February 2025 meeting.
On routine business, the board approved the consent calendar on a motion by Chris Hingst, seconded by Shawna Blanka. The consent items included the minutes of the Dec. 12, 2024 meeting; direct deposit slips and checks on Bankwest and FNB Bank covering disbursements and payroll numbering ranges as recorded in the minutes; activity fund reports as of Dec. 31, 2024; and a cash transfer of $23,977 from the General Fund to the Special Education Fund. The total value of the disbursements listed in the minutes was $537,184.75.
The board approved a procurement action after Superintendent Penka presented two bids from Dan Brenner Ford: a 2025 four‑wheel Expedition priced at $54,650.00 and a 2023 Transit 350 mid‑roof wagon 2WD at $77,650.00. On a motion by Chris Hingst, seconded by Dustin Andrist, the board voted to purchase the 2025 Expedition for $54,650.00. Superintendent Penka said she will obtain additional bids for a transit bus for consideration at the February meeting.
Administratively, the board authorized the district's move to FNB Bank's Cash Management payroll program and approved program access: Traci Neitzel was named administrator of the Cash Management program, Tania Quintero was granted full access, and Mack Elliott was authorized for verification‑only access. That action was approved on a motion by Shawna Blanka, seconded by Dustin Andrist.
At 8:03 a.m. the board entered a 15‑minute executive session to discuss non‑elected personnel under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA). Following the executive session, the board approved a motion by Dustin Andrist, seconded by Shawna Blanka, to extend the contracts of Principal Delbert Schmidt and Principal Susan Dinkel for two years.
Superintendent Penka also reported that the district's KESA plan had been approved by the state board of education; the minutes record this as a report to the board rather than a board action. The board set its next regular meeting for Feb. 13, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. and adjourned at 8:24 a.m.
Votes recorded in the minutes show motions carried for the agenda change, consent calendar, vehicle purchase, cash‑management signatories, principal contract extensions and adjournment; the minutes do not provide individual roll‑call tallies for those votes.
