USD 452 board approves handbook changes, Albuquerque art trip and staff contracts; raises graduation requirement to 29 credits

The Unified School District #452 Board of Education met Aug. 12 in the SCHS Boardroom and approved a series of routine and policy items, including changes to classified staff pay and sick-leave policy, a student Art Club trip to Albuquerque, and a new 29-credit graduation requirement for the Class of 2028.

President Lettie McKinney called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board members Lettie McKinney, Val Zumudio, Bobbie Ehrlich and Bret Kendrick were present, along with Superintendent Trenton Horn and principals Andrea Jones and Leah Crane. The board approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda, including minutes and claims, on unanimous 4-0 votes.

Elementary Principal Andrea Jones reported that about 95% of students completed enrollment, and described her Jump Start program. Jr./Sr. High Principal Leah Crane said current high-school enrollment is 188 and reviewed new course offerings and coverage plans.

Superintendent Trenton Horn briefed the board on KESA and said the district’s Blue Ribbon Task Force has identified "too much screen time for kids" as a concern. The board did not record a formal action on that item but discussed monitoring student-screen time as part of district priorities.

On action items, the board approved an Art Club trip proposed by Judy Belford to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, scheduled for Oct. 3–6 with a planned stop during the hot air balloon weekend. The board also approved changes to the classified staff handbook presented by Superintendent Horn, which align unused personal-leave payoff with teacher policy, allow classified employees to donate up to 15 days to a classified sick bank, and provide a bonus for employees who use fewer than three sick days in a year.

The board discussed insurance and public-usage questions raised by Conrade Insurance related to a separate middle-school building but recorded no formal decision on sale or usage at this meeting. Val Zumudio nominated Rhett Seyb as the district’s High Plains Education Cooperative representative (Chantry named as first alternate); the nomination was approved 4-0. Bret Kendrick moved to elect Bobbie Ehrlich as the district’s KASB voting delegate; that motion also passed unanimously.

Principal Crane outlined JR/SR handbook updates including a new requirement that members of the senior class of 2028 must complete 29 credit hours to graduate; the board approved the change 4-0. The board approved the USD 452 reopening plan as presented and approved six non-resident student applications for the coming year (Kaceton Haney, Brigham Mundell, Dax Mundell, Trinity Koehn, Kelbie Koehn and Mia Ochoa).

The board entered three short executive sessions to discuss personnel matters with Superintendent Horn joining each session; minutes state the purpose was personnel and to protect individuals’ rights. After the executive sessions the board approved multiple contracts for staff and coaches (including KC Higley, Frank Garcia, Trisha Smaltz, Nicole Coffey, Michelle Canny, Kristina Martin, Royale Brown, Mindy Wilson and Leah Crane) and accepted the resignation of Amber Wilkerson from the USD 452 Board of Education. A final board comment raised concerns about outside mowing near the middle school on Main Street. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the minutes carried on unanimous 4-0 votes. Specific actions approved include the agenda, consent items, the Art Club trip (Oct. 3–6), classified handbook changes, nomination of Rhett Seyb as HPEC representative, election of Bobbie Ehrlich as KASB delegate, JR/SR handbook change setting graduation at 29 credits, USD 452 reopening plan, six non-resident student applications, multiple staff contracts, and acceptance of Amber Wilkerson’s resignation.

What happens next: The minutes record approved policy changes, hires and nominations. The board did not schedule additional meetings in these minutes; routine follow-up will be handled by district administration.