School board approves contract extensions

Two-year contract extensions for nine administrators were approved by the Unified School District 333 board of education during its regular meeting Wednesday night in the Concordia Junior-Senior High School cafeteria.
Administrators receiving contract extensions include:
Superintendent of schools Quentin Breese, director of operations and technology director Kelly Struebing, Concordia Junior-Senior High School principal Kale Katt, Concordia Junior-Senior High School athletic/activities director Chad Eshbaugh, Concordia Middle School principal Curtis Noon, Concordia Elementary School principal Derek Holmes, Concordia Elementary School assistant principal Krystal Breese, Learning Cooperative of North Central Kansas (LCNCK) director Rebekah Helget and LCNCK assistant director of special education/school psychologist Sara Niehues.
The board voted to extend the contracts following a 20-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel.
Included in the information items on the agenda for the meeting was an update by Breese on the school year 2022-2023 prioritized staffing needs.
The top priority listed is a business and computer science instructor for grades 5-12. It is a position that was budgeted for but was not filled this year.
A family consumer science teacher for grades 7-12 was listed as the second priority. It is also a budgeted position that has gone unfilled for three years.
The other two positions listed among the top priorities include a 7-12 physical education instructor and a middle school music instructor for grades 4-6.
The estimated cost of the positions is $200,000.
Breese said that the positions have been budgeted for.
Also under the information items, Helget met with the board and discussed the Project SEARCH program that the LCNCK will be launching in August 2023.
Project SEARCH provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help young people with significant disabilities make successful transitions to productive adult life.
At the completion of the training program, students are employed in nontraditional, complex and rewarding jobs.
Project SEARCH participants are typically high school students who are on an individual education program in their last year of high school eligibility. They attend the program for a full school year in the host business.
LCNCK is partnering with Cloud County Health Center on the Project SEARCH program.
The host business provides access to an on-site training room that can accommodate up to 12 interns. The site is staffed with one to three skill trainers to meet the educational and training needs of the interns.
Helget approached Cloud County Health Center director David Garnas about partnering on the program.
Garnas also spoke to the board of education during the meeting. He said he met with his department heads and received their approval to move forward.
“We want to make sure Project SEARCH is successful and not be the reason that it isn’t successful,” Garnas said.
Participants in the Project SEARCH program will be on a first-come, first-served basis from the five school districts served by LCNCK.
Included in the certified staff changes approved by the board during the meeting was the resignation of Concordia Elementary School librarian Laura Barta.
Following adjournment of the meeting, the board had a reception for outgoing member Mary Beth Smith.
Starting in 2001, Smith has served five terms on the board representing District 3, Position 6. She did not seek re-election this year.
Brad Berk was elected to fill Smith’s position. He will be sworn in during the January meeting.