Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
USD #327 board holds multiple executive sessions under KOMA and approves hires, transfers, resignations and principal contracts
Summary
After repeated executive sessions under Kansas Open Meetings Act exceptions for negotiations and non-elected personnel, the board approved several personnel actions — hiring two bus drivers, a custodial transfer, multiple resignations effective at the end of the school year — and approved contracts for six administrators through 2025–26.
The Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo USD #327 board entered multiple executive sessions on Feb. 10 under Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) exceptions for employer-employee negotiations and non-elected personnel, and later approved several personnel actions and administrator contracts.
Minutes record executive sessions beginning at 8:10 p.m. (teacher negotiations, return at 8:20 p.m.), a brief follow-up session (8:20–8:25), another executive session for non-elected personnel (8:25–8:50), and additional personnel-related closed sessions (8:50–9:00; 9:00–9:15; 9:15–9:30; 9:30–9:40). All motions to move into closed session were recorded as passing 6-0. The minutes do not disclose confidential negotiation or personnel details discussed in closed session.
Following those sessions the board, on motion by Ashley Bohl and second by Jake Svaty, approved hiring Brenda Rathbun as substitute bus driver and Harley Ruckman as bus driver; approved the transfer of Bobby Crnkovic from bus driver to full-time night custodian; and accepted resignations from Katy Cole (EJSHS junior-high volleyball coach), JD Buggeln (junior-high assistant girls basketball coach), Bryce Wilson (instrumental band teacher), and Jenny Freeman (high-school biology/A&P/health) effective at the end of the 2024–25 school year. The motion passed 6-0.
Later the board approved contracts through the 2025–26 school year for Sheila Shaffer (EES Principal), Kristy Rodriguez (KMS Principal), John Cannon (EJSHS Principal), Ron Davis (EJSHS Assistant Principal/Athletic Director), Karl Dawn Stover (CTE Coordinator/Teacher), and Dan Magie (Director of Curriculum and Instruction). That motion was moved by Ashley Bohl, seconded by Jake Svaty, and passed 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. by Board President Gina McGowan.
The minutes cite KOMA exceptions as the legal basis for closing portions of the meeting to protect the board’s position in employer-employee negotiations and to discuss non-elected personnel; no additional confidential contents are reported in the public minutes.
