Assistant Principal John Buckendorff to become new head principal at WHS
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington USD 353 School Board made WHS Assistant Principal John Buckendoff its high school principal Thursday night.
John Buckendorff
Buckendorff will start his new duties on July 1 when the 2017-18 academic year begins. The announcement was made after two highly unusual executive sessions at the beginning of the meeting — one for 10 minutes and another for five minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Executive sessions, i.e. private meetings, almost always occur at the end of the meeting.
The current vice principal will be replacing Adam Hatfield, who will be moving to the assistant Superintendent position, who in turn is replacing Brad Morris, who is retiring.
Buckendorff has been WHS assistant principal since August, 2014.
He was hired from the Goddard Public District where he was a Spanish/Business teacher from August 2008 to July 2014. Previously, he taught at the Wichita, Haysville and Oklahoma City Public High School systems.
In other employment news, the board approved the following resignations:
•Brenda Gray, Wellington Middle School cheer sponsor;
•Linda Rausch, WMS assistant cheer;
•Luke Smith, WHS assistant boys basketball;
•Jordan Tompkins, WHS assistant tennis;
•Sarah Reichenberger, para-educator.
•Terrence Nichols, para-educator;
•Marilyn Moore, para-educator.
The following hirings were made:
•Blake Brewster, WHS head volleyball coach;
•Adrien Young, assistant boys tennis;
•James Ginter, WHS girls golf coach;
•Vanessa Sawyer, WHS girls golf coach;
•J’Lynn Ledesma, WHS assistant girls golf coach;
•Meridith Day, roving para;
•Mandi Harris, Lincoln para;
•Kellyn Holt, Kennedy first grade;
•Brianna Young, Eisenhower first grade.
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The board also approved:Â
•Heath Peine’s out of state travel to the Special Education Legislative Summit in Alexandria, Va.;
•a bid for $12,174 to seal the exterior north wall of the main gym at WMS  which leaks during heavy rains and causes some damage to the floor;
•a five-year strategic plan – which have been worked on since the spring of 2016 – it will be posted on the district website;
•a district comprehensive communication plan – giving guidance to administration and staff regarding the implementation of communication for all stakeholders;
•the 2017-18 district school calendar which is identical to the 16-17 calendar;
•negative meal balance policy which gives guidance to schools when students’ meal accounts become negative.
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In other news:Â
• The board approved a request by the WHS Performing Arts students to attend the International Thespian Festival on June 22-28 in Lincoln, Neb.
•Elementary music teachers proposed a new blended music curriculum that hasn’t been updated since 1995.
•Stephanie Smith, principal of Kennedy, recently hosted Futures staff and district administration for a tour of a Kennedy facility. The group toured the portable buildings as a potential location for a preschool. District administration would like to develop a shared agreement with Futures to provide space for a preschool.
•Peine presented data related to students’ math and reading progress at the March BOE meeting. Many USD 353 students are significantly below grade level in both subjects. The district’s MTSS process slated for full implementation in the fall of 2017 will begin to address such deficiencies.
•Morris told the board he is currently looking for bids related to both exterior LED lights for the high school parking lot, and lights for the WHS gyms and auditorium.
•The board went into executive session at 8:52 p.m. for legal matters, adjourning soon after at 9:24 p.m.
