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Stanton County board denies Elkhart petition to leave High Plains Cooperative, adopts six‑year curriculum rotation
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the Stanton County Unified School District #452 Board of Education voted 6‑0 to deny a petition from Elkhart seeking to leave the High Plains Education Cooperative and approved a six‑year curriculum rotation beginning with English language arts in 2026.
The Stanton County Unified School District #452 Board of Education voted Jan. 14 to deny a petition by Elkhart to withdraw from the High Plains Education Cooperative and approved a districtwide six‑year curriculum rotation.
Board President Lettie Nickell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the board later took up an Elkhart petition that the High Plains representative, Val Zamudio, had flagged in an earlier report. After discussion, Board Member Bobbie Ehrlich moved to deny Elkhart’s request; Val Zamudio seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6‑0.
Why it matters: membership in a regional cooperative typically affects how districts share services, staff and programs. The board discussed the petition during the meeting’s agenda and chose to maintain Stanton County’s current cooperative arrangement.
On curriculum, Superintendent Dave Novack outlined a proposed six‑year rotation intended to stagger large curriculum adoptions and purchases: English language arts in 2026, electives in 2027, math in 2028, science in 2029, social studies in 2030, a break in 2031, and a restart in 2032. Paige German moved to adopt the rotation; Bret Kendrick seconded and the motion carried 6‑0.
The board recorded several other procedural votes during the meeting: it approved the consent agenda, moved the May board meeting date, and voted to defer officer elections from January to July (details below). The board also discussed a potential reduction in E‑rate reimbursement—Superintendent Novack said the district expects to appeal a decision that may reduce the usual annual E‑rate return (of roughly $40,000 he reported, about $18,717 of which he said may not be returned).
Votes at a glance: • Elkhart petition to leave High Plains Education Cooperative — Motion to deny by Bobbie Ehrlich, seconded by Val Zamudio; outcome: denied, 6‑0. • Curriculum rotation adoption (2026 ELA; 2027 Electives; 2028 Math; 2029 Science; 2030 Social Studies; 2031 break; 2032 restart) — Motion by Paige German, seconded by Bret Kendrick; outcome: approved, 6‑0. • Consent agenda (Dec. 17 minutes, claims) — Motion by Bobbie Ehrlich, seconded by Paige German; outcome: approved, 6‑0. • Move May meeting from May 11 to May 13 at 11:30 a.m. — Motion by Bret Kendrick, seconded by Bobbie Ehrlich; outcome: approved, 6‑0. • Move election of board officers from January to July — Motion by Paige German, seconded by Bobbie Ehrlich; outcome: approved, 6‑0.
The board’s decision on the Elkhart petition preserves the district’s existing cooperative membership; the curriculum rotation is intended to spread adoption and purchasing cycles over multiple years. The board adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
