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Board of Education re-elects officers, approves KASB policy changes and offers superintendent contract
Summary
At its Jan. 12 meeting the Board of Education re-elected Rex Robinson and Nicole Curtis as president and vice-president, approved KASB policy updates with wording changes to IIBE, authorized a superintendent contract for Steven Novotny through June 30, 2026, and approved several supplemental coaching contracts.
The Board of Education met in regular session on Jan. 12, 2026. Rex Robinson was re-elected board president and Nicole Curtis was re-elected vice-president; both motions carried following routine votes.
The meeting opened with the board approving the agenda and consent agenda. Superintendent Steven Novotny reported updates on an Office for Civil Rights audit timeline, discussed INA phase 2 options and noted the legislative session has begun. Building reports from Novotny and ES Co-Principal Diane House covered attendance, winter benchmarking, accreditation and Kansas assessments.
Under old business the board approved December policy updates from the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) with wording changes to policy IIBE; Jerry DeWeese moved the approval and Nicole Curtis seconded. Under new business the board set procurement dates for front-door replacement bids: requests will be sent Jan. 14, 2026, with bids due and opened Jan. 28, 2026 at noon. The 2026–27 school calendar was presented for a first look only.
The board held multiple executive sessions under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) to discuss employer-employee negotiations and non‑elected personnel matters; administrators and the business manager were invited to attend those sessions. The open meeting resumed after each executive session at the times announced by the board.
After the executive sessions, the board moved to personnel actions. Jerry DeWeese moved and David McComb seconded a motion to offer a contract to Steven Novotny as superintendent through June 30, 2026; the motion carried. The board also approved supplemental contracts: Darci Poland as Innovation Fair coordinator for 2025–26; Jill Nech as publications and yearbook sponsor for 2025–26; Andrew Nation as head middle school track coach effective Feb. 1, 2026, and head high school track coach effective March 1, 2026; Lori Anschutz as head softball coach effective March 1, 2026; and Lee Kendall as head baseball coach effective March 1, 2026. Mark Graber moved the supplemental-contract motion and David McComb seconded.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that carried; the board adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
The board will proceed with the announced procurement schedule for the front door bids and will address the 2026–27 calendar in future meetings as the item returns for formal consideration.
