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USD 217 board approves separation agreement, interim principal and superintendent pay change
Summary
At its July 31 special meeting, the USD 217 Board of Education approved a separation agreement for Dettra Crawford, hired Tracy Flanagan as interim K‑12 principal with a $1,000 stipend, and adjusted Superintendent of Record Rex Richardson’s duties and compensation; all motions passed unanimously.
HAYS, Kan. — The USD 217 Board of Education on July 31 approved several personnel actions and authorized staff to communicate with federal auditors during a 66‑minute special meeting.
Board President Jason LaRue called the meeting to order at about 6:09 p.m. and the board moved through multiple executive sessions under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) to discuss non‑elected personnel matters. After returning to open session, the board approved a separation agreement for Dettra Crawford, voting 6‑0 to sign an agreement prepared by the district’s lawyer.
Courtney Reza, a board member, moved to hire Tracy Flanagan as interim K‑12 principal at her current salary plus a $1,000 stipend and to advertise the permanent K‑12 principal position; Phoebe Brummett seconded and the motion carried 6‑0. The board’s minutes do not include further details about the separation or the interim assignment.
The board also voted to revise the responsibilities for Rex Richardson, the district’s Superintendent of Record, and set Richardson’s annual compensation for 2025–26 at $20,000. The motion additionally authorized USD 217 to pay USD 374 $10,000 for use of resources; the motion passed 6‑0. The minutes do not specify which duties were removed or reassigned or the precise services USD 374 will provide.
On financial oversight, Jason LaRue moved that Board Clerk Kathy Purcell be permitted to discuss the district’s audit with the Internal Revenue Service; Courtney Reza seconded and the board approved the request unanimously. The board’s minutes list “Discussion of Audit findings to date — KOMA Financial Affairs IRS Audit” but provide no detail on the audit’s scope or findings.
The board also approved, by unanimous vote, allowing the junior high football team to play with Elkhart pending Elkhart Schools’ approval. Board members instructed administrators to advertise all current open positions; the board tabled decisions on science, principal and secretarial openings until a special meeting scheduled for Aug. 11, 2025.
The meeting adjourned at about 7:15 p.m. The board’s minutes note that executive sessions were held under KOMA for non‑elected personnel; the minutes do not disclose personnel deliberations held in closed session.
What’s next: The board set a special meeting for Aug. 11, 2025 to continue work on several open positions.
