Esport head coach Todd Larkey and three of the team’s representatives, Draisyn Lea, Jaxon Highbarger, and Emma Gooch, at the Wellington school board meeting.

Sumner Newscow report — The following is a school board roundup for the meeting held on June 10 by Wellington Communication Specialist Russ Sturm.

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Discussion Items

Education Spotlight: WHS Esports Team

The WHS Esports Overwatch team recently qualified for the National Championship competition in Orlando, Fla. to be held on June 20-23, to be played just right off the Disney resort.

The board recognized members of the WHS Esports Overwatch team for the amazing accomplishments they achieved this year.

The team qualified after finishing third in the state competition.

The full members of the Esport team who is going to Florida.

The WHS Esports program is only in its second year. Esports Coach Todd Larkey and Overwatch team members Draisyn Lea, Jaxon Highbarger, and Emma Gooch addressed the board, explaining how excited and honored they were to have the opportunity to compete against the best teams in the nation. Coach Larkey also expressed their gratitude for the community’s support.

Numerous local businesses and individuals generously donated to fund the team’s trip. Team Captain Hunter Worley, Hagen Bryant, and Jacob Dry were the only Overwatch team members who could not attend the BOE meeting.

WSU Tech Aviation Programs

Jim Hall and Jena Roth from WSU Tech presented to the board an opportunity to add an aviation certificate program at WHS at no cost to the district. The class will focus on aviation maintenance and will use the nationally recognized Choose Aerospace curriculum which is endorsed by the Aviation Technicians Education Council. The goal is to equip students with valuable, transferable skills in aviation maintenance and industry engagement. This is a brand new program that WSU Tech will offer to only six high schools across the state, and USD 353 is the first district they have approached to offer this opportunity due to our local aviation industry and our proximity to Wichita.

They also reviewed and assessed the opportunity for students to stay and work in our community. AAR Corp (formally Triumph) reached out as an interested industry partner in the Choose Aerospace project by providing student opportunities for industry mentorship and engagement. WSU Tech will cover the cost of curriculum, credentials, testing, and materials.

They will also provide weekly virtual sessions with a certified Aviation Maintenance Technician instructor, while WHS will provide a local instructor for the class. WSU Tech will provide the training for the local instructor. The program could be very beneficial for our students and our community. Students will gain hands-on experience with aircraft systems, engines, and maintenance procedures, providing a direct pathway to becoming certified aviation maintenance technicians. The program will help them build relationships with aviation companies and organizations, potentially leading to internships, mentorships, and job placements.. In addition, participants will meet the new postsecondary asset graduation requirement by earning a Technical Certificate; Industry Recognized Credential and 18 college credit hours. The program would begin in the fall of 2024.

Andrea Kreifels moved to approve WSU Tech’s implementation of this program into our school system. Pat Zeka seconded the motion, which carried 6-0.

District Handbooks

The updated District Handbooks for the 2024-25 school year were presented to the board for review. After each school year, district administrators review and update numerous handbooks for the upcoming school year. These handbooks reflect the rules and guidelines that students and employees are expected to adhere to. Changes are usually made based on situations from the past that were not covered in the handbook, to clarify rules already in place, changes that may be occurring at the schools, or to be in compliance with state and federal legislation.

The board requested to add this topic to an upcoming planning session.

Job Description Policy

A Board Member requested that the board discuss the Job Description Policy. The current policy states that the Superintendent shall develop a job description for each employee category. Job responsibilities are continuously evolving, and at this point, the district office is in the process of re-writing job descriptions as those positions open up. The policy also states that the board must approve the job descriptions before they go into effect. Some board members felt that was unnecessary and may delay the hiring process.

The board requested that the district rewrite this policy, removing board approval for job descriptions, and bring the item back to the board next month.

Facility Update

Director of Operations Kelly Adams updated the Wellington school board on facilities projects currently happening around the district and the work of the Facility Committee. Two architects will meet with the Facility Committee later this month to discuss potential district projects in preparation for a possible bond issue in the spring of 2025.

Once those projects have been determined, the board will tour the facilities to better understand district needs at each school building. Numerous projects around the district are currently in progress. The middle school carpet project is moving along with the seventh and eighth grade hallways being completed and they are now moving into some of the classrooms. The tile project at the middle school will begin soon. Nick Wellington is working on turf maintenance at the football field to make sure it is ready to go when the upcoming season begins. Some of the sprinklers have recently been adjusted to ensure proper watering of the turf is taking place.

Mr. Wellington is working to rid the turf of any weeds and our grass seed expert will meet with him on fertilization that will also help with weed control. There are also numerous painting projects happening at some of our school buildings that will spruce up the hallways, classrooms, and other areas. Mr. Adams also briefly discussed the ongoing water well project at the high school.

Discussion only; no action necessary.

Planning Session

The District proposed a Planning Session to discuss District Goals, Building Needs Assessments, and State Assessments. Board members requested that District Handbooks be added to this planning session.

Action Items

Esports Team Travel to Nationals

The WHS Esports team has qualified for Nationals in Orlando, Florida. They will need approval for travel.

Board member Robert White moved to approve the Esports team’s travel to Orlando. Sarah Lawrence seconded the motion, which carried 6-0.

Non-Resident Enrollment Policy

KASB has adjusted its Policy based on the latest Legislation and recommended that we adopt their policy.

Jessica Seeliger motioned to approve the Non-Resident Enrollment policy as presented by KASB. White seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.

High School Science Curriculum

Last month, Dr. Jen Kern presented new Science Curriculum options to the BOE. This month, she will request action on the Chemistry curriculum. The physical science and earth science curriculums are still to be determined, but Dr. Kern felt that we needed to have the Chemistry curriculum in place when our new High School Chemistry teacher arrives from Africa.

Zeka moved to approve the quote from McGraw Hill for the Chemistry curriculum. Seeliger seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.

Administrative Reports

Lawrence moved to go into executive session for 15 minutes and include Superintendent Adam Hatfield, Darcy Bacon, and Jen Kern to discuss student matters. The regular meeting will resume at 7:45 p.m. in the board room. Jessica Seeliger seconded the motion, which carried 6-0.

Negotiations
Seeliger motioned to go into executive session for 20 minutes and to include Superintendent Hatfield, Darcy Bacon, and Kern to discuss negotiations. Regular meeting to resume at 8:05 p.m. in the board room. White seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Non-Elected Personnel
Seeliger motioned to go into executive session for 45 minutes and to include Hatfield, Kern, and Bacon on call to discuss non-elected personnel. Regular meeting resumes at 8:50 p.m. in the board room. Zeka seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

White motioned to go into executive session for 45 minutes and to include Hatfield, Kern, and Bacon on call to discuss Non-elected personnel. The regular meeting resumed at 9:35 p.m. in the board room. Lawrence seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Kreifels motioned to go into executive session for 15 minutes and include Bacon to discuss Non-elected personnel. The regular meeting resumed at 9:50 p.m. in the board room. Seeliger seconded the motion, which carried 5-0.

Kreifels motioned to amend the consent agenda to add Item 7.5—Approve the admin contracts as presented. Lawrence seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-1 (Zeka voted no).

Consent Agenda

Approve the Minutes of the May 13 meeting. Approve Payroll and Bills

Payroll: Bills: Transfers:

$1,279,670.20 $554,242.69

At Risk: $100,000 Vocations: $75,000

Personnel

Approve New Hires
Lauren Anderson – Assistant Cheer Coach – WHS;

Billy Terry – Custodian – WHS;

Anna McMinn – Para – Lincoln;

Elli Franke – Para – Kennedy;

Kaelee Leonard – Art teacher – WMS;

Shiloh Rosenberg – First-grade teacher – Kennedy;

Lydia Mwango Nyambegera – Chemistry teacher – WHS;

Kimberly Becker – Para – WMS.

Approve Resignations
Delaney Miller – First-grade teacher – Kennedy;

Hillary Merfeld – Para – Washington

Eric Rasmussen – Custodian – WHS.

Approve Transfers/Position Changes
Sawyer Bowman – Para to Kindergarten teacher – Washington

Approve the IDEA Assurances
Approve the Admin Contracts as presented. (amended item)

White motioned to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Seeliger seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-2. (Zeka and Lawrence voted no).

Meeting adjourned at 9:54 p.m.

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•The BOE Meeting Video Link: https://youtu.be/V4ESj2bbwBY

•The complete agenda can be found at USD353.com. Please note that this is only a summary to provide a recap of each BOE meeting. Approved minutes posted by the Board Clerk can be found at USD353.com under the Board of Education tab.

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