Ellsworth board approves new agriculture teacher and certified-staff contracts after multiple executive sessions

The Ellsworth Board of Education approved personnel actions March 9 after a series of executive sessions covering non-elected personnel and teacher negotiations under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA).

Mrs. Ashley Bohl moved to approve hiring Kylie Rahmeier as an agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor at EJSHS for the 2026–2027 school year, to accept the resignation of Brecka Schroeder as EJSHS assistant cheer coach effective at the end of the 2025–2026 school year, and to approve all certified staff contracts for 2026–2027; the motion passed 5-0.

The minutes record multiple executive sessions through the evening: at 8:39 p.m. the board entered an executive session with Superintendent Deena Hilbig and Mrs. Shaffer to discuss employment of non-elected personnel under the KOMA exception and returned at 8:45 p.m.; subsequent short executive sessions with Mrs. Hilbig and different administrators (including Dr. Rodriguez, Mr. Cannon and Ken Cravens) followed, and later sessions addressed teacher negotiations where Mrs. Florian joined the board and administration to protect the district’s negotiation position. The board returned to open session after each executive session and recorded motions authorizing those sessions.

Why it matters: hiring decisions and contract approvals determine staffing for the next school year. The multiple executive sessions indicate personnel and bargaining matters required closed-session discussion as recorded in the minutes. The minutes do not disclose confidential personnel details discussed in executive session.

What’s next: administration will proceed with onboarding the new hire and implement staffing changes; teacher negotiations are noted as ongoing in executive-session minutes.