by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — After a split decision, the Wellington school board appointed two Wellington Recreation Commission members at its Thursday meeting at the administration building.

Matt Barton will serve a four-year term with the rec board while Betty Zeka will serve a three-year term. The WRC, although acting independently of USD 353, is technically part of the school system’s umbrella.

By a 4-2 vote, the school board took the recommendations of the WRC board and appointed Barton, currently serving on the board, and Zeka, who will be replacing Amy Jenkins.

Wellington board member David Peck went against the WRC board recommendations and nominated J.P. Buellesfeld for the position instead of Barton. It was seconded by Bob White.

WRC board member Hankie Holefelder was in the audience and addressed the school board urging it to go with Barton due to his accounting and board experience.

“We are in the middle of a building project, and Matt has been such a part of that,” Holefelder said. “Even though we are bringing Betty Kay in, we’ll have two new members coming in midstream (if going with Buellesfeld). J.P. is a wonderful person. But for right now, Matt is the person we should stick with.”

Wellington board president Jackie Berryman said the WRC Board had worked hard in the nomination process and that it should go with its recommendations.

“We still have the power to appoint whomever we want to,” Peck said. “We still have a motion on the floor.”

The motion failed 5-2. Board member Angie Ratcliff then nominated Barton. That motion passed 5-2.

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New hirings: 

There were no resignations at USD 353 for this month.

New hirings are as follows:

•Sarah Garcia: Title 1 teacher at Lincoln Elementary.

•Sara Osborne: WHS Physical Science.

•Samantha Gandy: Eisenhower Special Education teacher.

Zane Aguilar transferred from Roosevelt Education Center to kindergarten and first grade physical education for Lincoln and Eisenhower Elementary schools.

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In other board news:

•The board will hold a listening tour again this year. The dates will be on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 25, Nov. 20, Jan. 15, and April 16.

•The board approved the purchase of playground equipment for Roosevelt School. This project is in conjunction with similar action from the Wellington City Council and Wellington Recreation Commission board of directors. The equipment will be set up by the city of Wellington.

•On September 27, a group of 20 people associated with Moonlight Ghosts Hunts Inc. in Wichita wants to tour the old junior high school and search for more ghosts. The board gave its approval.

•Gary Hassenflu has made another offer for the old junior high building. He had originally offered to purchase the building the year before to turn it into an apartment complex, but funding fell through. He was not in attendance Thursday so the board tabled the matter until next month. In the board packet, Superintendent Rick Weiss stated there is another prospective developer from Wichita who is also interested in the building.

•USD 353 administrator Jerry Hodson reported both the high school and Kennedy roof leak problems are being addressed. After tests at the high school, it was determined that the leaking is not coming from the flat roof but somewhere in a wall. They will be also be putting a rubberized seal on the roof at Kennedy.

•Hodson said technology wise, there have been several hiccups in the school’s conversion to a new computer system. First, the hardware came in late, and then there were several syncing issues with the school’s infrastructure. Hodson said, though, that new servers and access points will be set up next week and ready for the school year.

•WHS Principal Dale Adams said enrollment went well but there were a lot of people still needing to get enrolled. Lincoln Elementary Principal John Walton said his class sizes are up about 10 students per class.

•The board went into executive session for non-elected personnel.