Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Staffing Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Francis school board approves two new elementary hires, reviews multiple staff resignations and holds executive session on personnel
Summary
The St. Francis Community School Board approved two elementary teaching hires, reviewed several staff resignations, authorized advertising for a Transportation Director and recessed twice into executive session to discuss staff performance under the KOMA personnel exception.
Board President Troy Hilt convened the St. Francis Community School Board on March 13, 2025. The board approved hiring Adrienne Ehresman for an elementary teaching position and later approved hiring Arely Ramirez as an additional elementary teacher for the 2025–26 school year.
The Hiring Committee recommended Adrienne Ehresman; Board member Chris Hingst moved to approve the hire, Dustin Andrist seconded and the motion carried with Bruce Swihart recorded as abstaining. After discussion, Board member Shawna Blanka moved to hire Arely Ramirez; J.W. Milliken seconded and the motion carried.
Superintendent Penka presented multiple staff resignations during the meeting, including Kim McGinnis (transportation director), Michael McGinnis (bus driver, effective March 3, 2025), Laura Dietz (junior high girls’ head basketball coach), Doris Clingenpeel (cheer/pom sponsor), Morgan Sherlock (high school girls’ assistant basketball coach), Brock Waters (junior high basketball coach), and Jairo Rodriguez (Business/Finance instructor). The minutes record the presentation of those resignations but do not specify separate board votes to accept each resignation.
The board recessed into executive session "to discuss the performance of individual staff members in order to protect their privacy pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA" on a motion by Chris Hingst, seconded by J.W. Milliken; the open meeting resumed at 8:19 a.m. The board then approved an additional 10 minutes of executive session and returned to open session at 8:29 a.m.
Under new business Superintendent Penka noted current staffing needs and the board reached consensus to run an advertisement for the Transportation Director position. The board also voted to retain 6th-grade sports; J.W. Milliken moved to keep the program, Chris Hingst seconded and the motion carried. The board said it will seek an additional coach for boys’ junior high basketball.
The board was reminded of the statutory timeline under K.S.A. 72-5411: the board must notify a teacher in writing on or before the third Friday in May if a contract will not be renewed; teachers must notify the school board within 14 days after that date if resigning. The minutes note contract offers and reassignments for 2025–26 can be acted on at the April 10, 2025 meeting or at the May 8, 2025 meeting if necessary.
Principal Schmidt reported 96% attendance at high school parent/teacher conferences and Principal Dinkel reported 91% attendance at the grade school. The board scheduled its next regular meeting for April 10, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. and adjourned at 8:45 a.m.
