Ellsworth USD 327 board renews IT contract, accepts grants, approves FFA trip and staff actions

Gina McGowan, board president of the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo USD 327 Board of Education, called the regular meeting to order Jan. 13, 2025, at the district office in Ellsworth. The board unanimously approved its amended agenda and consent items including December financial reports and $236,688.03 in bills.

The board approved a five-year renewal with K12itc for network management services, at a cost of $112,467.12 per year plus a one-time equipment setup fee of $6,196.75. Dan Magie, the district's curriculum and instruction director, presented the recommendation and said the higher annual cost reflects inflation and the addition of cybersecurity measures. Cynthia Edgerle moved to renew the contract; Brian Rush seconded and the motion passed 6-0.

Board members also approved several resolutions to reflect personnel changes: Resolutions 25-14 and 25-15 set the board's operating calendar (July 1 to June 30) for meeting dates and officer elections, Resolution 25-16 updates bank-account authorizations, and Resolution 25-17 names those responsible for food-service claims. Edgerle moved approval of the four resolutions; Rush seconded and the vote was 6-0.

The board amended prior July appointments (effective Feb. 1, 2025) to name Natasha Florian as board clerk and KPERS agent, Terrah Martin as treasurer and deputy clerk (shared with Kim Whetzel), and Florian as the Freedom of Information officer. The appointment changes passed unanimously on a motion by Ashley Bohl and a second from David Hand.

Business items included approval of out-of-state travel for the FFA chapter to the Black Hills Stock Show in South Dakota (Jan. 31'Feb. 3). Wesley Rathbun and Ashlyn Schwerdtfeger presented on behalf of the FFA; Jake Svaty moved the travel approval, David Hand seconded and the motion carried 6-0.

The board accepted multiple gifts and grants: Kiwanis donated $477 for teacher appreciation; Raised Rustic (Olivia Stephenson) donated a Tonie Audio Box for the elementary library; the Overdeck Family Foundation through Central Kansas Camp Invention provided 42 Flight Lab kits for a fourth-grade classroom; Sabrina Bourbon donated a flute to the music program; and Oneok awarded a $5,000 grant for a greenhouse revitalization project. The gift-and-grant acceptance was moved by Jake Svaty, seconded by Ashley Bohl, and approved 6-0.

Other approvals: the board authorized sale or disposal of two older FACS-room stoves replaced via grant funds (motion by Brian Rush; second Jake Svaty), and voted to join the South West Plains Perkins consortium to preserve Perkins funding and Pathway programming (initial cost $750, then $550 ongoing) after the district's previous consortium dissolved (motion by Rush; second Svaty). Both motions passed 6-0.

The board held two brief executive sessions under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) to discuss non-elected personnel and returned to open session both times. Afterward the board accepted the retirement notice of Tracy Wacker, effective at the end of the school year, and approved adding a year to Superintendent Deena Hilbig's contract, extending it through the 2026'27 school year. Cynthia Edgerle moved to approve the personnel actions; Ashley Bohl seconded and the motion passed 6-0.

The board recognized January as School Board Recognition Month, thanked maintenance and custodial staff for extensive snow removal efforts, and noted student and CTE highlights including two KMS fifth-graders selected to the Kansas Music Educators Association All State Elementary Choir and a job/internship fair hosted by business and agriculture departments with FBLA and FFA support. Announcements included a retirement reception for Clerk Dina Rankin on Jan. 20 (3-4 p.m.), a KESA check-in day Feb. 3, and the next regular board meeting scheduled for Feb. 10 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.