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USD 217 board hires superintendent of record and places superintendent on paid administrative leave
Summary
At a May 19, 2025 special meeting, the USD 217 Board of Education voted 6-0 to employ Rex Richardson as superintendent of record for the remainder of the school year and voted 5-1 to place Superintendent Dettra Crawford on paid administrative leave through the June 9 meeting. Both actions followed multiple executive sessions under KOMA.
HAYS, Kan. — The USD 217 Board of Education on May 19 voted to employ Rex Richardson as superintendent of record for the remainder of the school year and to place current Superintendent Dettra Crawford on paid administrative leave until the board's June 9 meeting.
President Jason LaRue moved "to employ Rex Richardson as Superintendent of Record for the remainder of the school year for $1,875.00 upon approval of his school board," a motion that Phoebe Brummett seconded; the motion carried 6-0. Richardson was identified in the minutes as "Superintendent of Schools, Sublette" and entered the meeting at about 7:10 p.m.
The board conducted multiple executive sessions under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) to discuss non-elected personnel before voting on the employment motion. The minutes record repeated closed sessions between 6:03 p.m. and 8:18 p.m., with various intervals recorded as 30, 20, 10, 5 and 2 minutes.
Later in the meeting, following additional executive sessions, LaRue moved that "Superintendent Dettra Crawford be put on paid administrative leave until June 9, 2025 board meeting." Nick Link seconded. The motion carried 5-1; Courtney Reza was recorded as opposed. The minutes do not state a reason for the administrative-leave action.
Board Treasurer Hannah Dunn and Board Clerk Kathy Purcell were present for portions of the meeting; the minutes show that a brief executive session including Treasurer Dunn occurred near the end of the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m. on a motion by Courtney Reza, seconded by Daniel Dunn (motion carried 6-0).
Votes at a glance: agenda approval motion carried 6-0; employment of Rex Richardson carried 6-0 (moved by Jason LaRue; seconded by Phoebe Brummett); motion to place Superintendent Dettra Crawford on paid administrative leave carried 5-1 (opposed: Courtney Reza); adjournment motion carried 6-0.
The minutes emphasize the board's public comment policy and ask patrons to direct concerns about employees to administrators; they note that the board will refer personnel concerns to appropriate administrators for investigation and follow up at a future meeting.
