Haywood elected board president as Riverton USD 404 adopts calendar, budget dates, policies and personnel actions

The Riverton Unified School District #404 Board of Education elected Cyle Haywood president and Kyle Anderson vice president during its reorganizational meeting on July 8, 2025, and approved a package of administrative policies, calendar dates and personnel actions to carry the district into the 2025–26 school year. The board met at the Riverton Board of Education Office and was called to order by Clerk Susie Nowlin at 6:00 P.M.

The meeting opened with roll call and nominations: Matt Darnaby nominated Cyle Haywood for board president and the board unanimously elected him; Judy Adams nominated Kyle Anderson as vice president and that motion also passed unanimously. The board then approved the consent agenda (Judy Adams moved, Jennifer Edwards seconded), which included additions for approval of a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, a termination and a resignation.

The board approved and paid district bills listed in the minutes (June: $510,892.53; July: $84,839.09) and approved the minutes of the June 12, 2025 regular meeting. The board set its regular meeting schedule for the 2025–26 school year (regular meetings to begin at 6:30 P.M., with several alternate dates noted) and appointed administrative officers: Susie Nowlin as clerk, Judy Price as assistant clerk, Royce Donaldson as treasurer and Bill Wachter as board attorney.

Several administrative resolutions and designations were adopted. By resolution 07082025(6) the board waived certain annual GAAP and fixed-assets accounting requirements for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 period. The board adopted a 1,116-hour calendar for 2025–26 and named building principals as truancy officers: Chad Harper and Shelly Livingston for the high school, Zach Martin for the middle school, and Adam Thomasson and Linda Wassom for the elementary school. The board designated the Galena Sentinel-Times and The Columbus News Record as its official newspapers and named American Bank as the official depository (with all Cherokee County banks designated as investment holders).

Personnel and compliance appointments included naming Kevin Cooper as hearing officer for free and reduced meal appeals, KPERS representative (Susie Nowlin), insurance representatives (Kevin Cooper and/or Susie Nowlin), and Kevin Cooper as Title IX and Section 504 coordinator. The board approved USD #404's participation in all federal programs for 2025–26 and appointed Cooper as Director of Federal Programs.

The board adopted financial controls for activity and petty cash funds: Petty Cash Resolution 07082025(3) established a $1,000 petty-cash fund and Food Service Petty Cash Resolution 07082025(4) set a $300 food-service petty-cash limit. The Activity Account Resolution 07082025(2) added guidelines requiring two bonded personnel to count activity funds weekly, specified paperwork and sponsor/principal sign-off for requisitions, and required activity checks to be signed by the board clerk and superintendent. The board also adopted an early-payment-of-bills policy and a Home Rule Resolution 07082025(5). Judy Price was designated the district’s Freedom of Information Officer, and custodians of records were assigned by function and building as required by the Kansas Open Records Act.

Budget housekeeping: the board set the publication date for the proposed 2025–26 budget for August 27, and scheduled the revenue-neutral-rate hearing for September 11 at 6:15 P.M., followed by the budget hearing at 6:30 P.M.

Operational reports noted ongoing summer work: Maintenance Director Justin Wilson summarized fire-alarm inspection results, irrigation repairs on the football field and other summer projects; Transportation Director Jon Bruce reported on bus inspections and maintenance. Principals reported summer-school programming and PreK enrollment; Elementary Principal Adam Thomasson noted playground equipment installation and the high-school principal reported continuing summer activities.

On staffing and contracts, the board approved a proposed non-certified work schedule (motion by Kyle Anderson, second Jennifer Edwards). The board announced open bids for HVAC units (woodshop, cafeteria, greenhouse and field house) and for building flooring, with bid deadlines of July 11, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. The Cardiac Emergency Response Plan was approved (motion by Kyle Anderson, second Judy Adams).

The board held multiple executive sessions under KOMA to consider non-elected personnel matters and teacher contract negotiations; specific staff members and administrators were retained for those closed discussions as recorded in the minutes. After returning to open session the board voted to fill two vacancies: Emren Akdamar (Secondary Instrumental) and Trey Shannon (Orchestra). The board approved the termination of employment for Glenda Bunce effective June 17, 2025 (motion by Matt Darnaby) and accepted the resignation of Catherine (Kitten) Gilmore, kindergarten paraprofessional, with the board expressing appreciation for her years of service.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 P.M. The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 14, 2025, at 6:30 P.M. in the Board of Education Office.